Entire city of Breckenridge under Boil Water Notice after busted line drains both water towers
By Carla McKeown and Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan
As water continued to gush from a busted water line on East Walker Street this afternoon, City of Breckenridge employees worked in neck-deep water, diving into the muddy water to try and stop the leak as other employees unsuccessfully searched for a cut-off valve.
The entire city of Breckenridge is under a Boil Water Notice today, Thursday, July 31, after a contractor hit a six-inch water line on East Walker Street this afternoon, near the intersection at South Easton Street, and both water towers were drained.
UPDATE: Shortly after 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening, Breckenridge City Manager Cynthia Northrop issued the following update to the water line situation:
“Water crews are wrapping up repairs and valves were located. Water pressure is rising in our towers. As both towers were drained it will take some time for the pressure to rise once repairs are complete and valves are turned back on and then for water to rise in the tanks. We are hopeful we can take samples tomorrow and get samples to Abilene and get cleared to issue Rescind Boil Water Notices, Saturday at the earliest or by Monday/Tuesday of next week.”
Late this afternoon, City of Breckenridge employees were still working on repairing the pipe, which was broken at about 2:30 p.m.
City of Breckenridge employees were neck-deep in water gushing from a busted water line on East Walker Street Thursday afternoon, July 31. According the City, a contractor hit a water line while doing some work in the area. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Just after 4 p.m. today, the City issued a Boil Water Notice for water customers on the east side of Breckenridge, but at about 5:30 p.m., City Manager Cynthia Northrop said the entire city will be under the notice. The city-wide notice was officially issued at 5:41 p.m.
“I don’t know the details exactly, but … it was HP Communications, who was working for FiberLight, that hit the line,” she said. “We’ve got all hands on deck right now.”
Northrop said that initially the City employees thought they could stop the leak before the second water tower drained, but, as with past leaks, they were unable to locate the turn-off valve for that line in time to stop both towers from draining. A similar incident happened in April.
One of the problems faced by City employees is a lack of accurate maps showing the locations of the shut-off valves, she said.
“That is one of the big problems we have,” Northrop said. “…a lot of times people think they know where the valves are, but they don’t. It was incorrect … on the map.”
Until the pipe is repaired, City of Breckenridge water customers may experience low water pressure and even a loss of water completely, Northrop said.
After the leak is repaired, the City will submit a water sample to be tested at a lab in Abilene, and it could be Monday or Tuesday before the results are back, allowing the City to lift the Boil Water Notice, she said.
Due to the incident, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc.). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions).
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner like this notice.
For more information, call Cynthia Northrop or Scott Bills at 254-559-8287.
Water pours onto East Walker Street from a busted water line Thursday afternoon, July 31. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: A City of Breckenridge employee reaches for a sleeve for repairing the broken water main on East Walker Street on Thursday afternoon, July 31. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
