Calif. homeowners sue county over sinking homes

Northern California homeowners sue county, blame leaking water system for sinking homes

Associated Press

LAKEPORT, Calif. (AP) -- Residents of a Northern California subdivision where homes are sinking into a hilltop have filed a lawsuit against the county.

The lawsuit — filed Friday— alleges that a leaking public water system is to blame for the damage to the Lake County subdivision.

County officials have said a landscape irrigation system operated by the homeowners association may be to blame for the wet ground.

The subdivision is in the city of Lakeport and overlooks Clear Lake. Numerous homes have been destroyed or threatened by the sinking earth.

A call to the county on Tuesday was not immediately returned.

Lakeport is about 120 miles north of San Francisco.