Carlsbad city officials are concerned that a hill sliding toward two La Costa houses could damage water and drainage pipes, so they may have the slipping slope shored up as a precaution.

Public Works Director Lloyd Hubbs told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the city is soliciting proposals from geo-technical firms to see what it would take to stop the slippage.

"At some point we have to step in and shore up that area not only to protect the homes, but also to protect public utilities," Hubbs told the newspaper. "We're evaluating what role we could play."

The Olivenhain Municipal Water District, which serves the area, has two pipes buried in the hill, the Union-Tribune reported. The former road bed for Rancho Santa Fe Road, which is being rerouted, also runs atop the hill. There are also drainage pipes.

Hubbs said San Diego Gas And Electric had underground lines there, but he believes they may have been abandoned, the newspaper reported.