Breckenridge Texan

By Tony Pilkington and Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

As the water crisis in Breckenridge continues well into the second day, Raydon, Inc. was on site at the location of the broken valve and was working early this afternoon to get it replaced.

This valve was picked up in Lubbock this morning and transported to Breckenridge to replace the broken valve that has prevented the City of Breckenridge’s water towers from filling up since Tuesday morning. The initial issue was caused by a water line that was busted by a contractor installing fiber optic lines in downtown. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Early this morning, Breckenridge Mayor Bob Sims declared a state of emergency for the city of Breckenridge due to the ongoing water supply problems that started Tuesday, Dec. 9, when a contractor laying fiber optics lines hit a water main in downtown Breckenridge. Once that water leak was repaired, the City discovered that a valve — responsible for allowing water to flow from the water treatment plant to the city’s water towers — was found to be broken in the closed position during isolation of the leaks, preventing the water towers from filling up again.

According to the crew installing the new valve, they picked it up in Lubbock this morning. The installation should take several hours, but they hope to finish the work sometime this evening.

While the work on the valve was taking place, City of Breckenridge employees and others worked to distribute water to community members, most of whom had been without water service for more than 24 hours. In the City Park, a line of vehicles waiting for water extended from the distribution point near the Trade Days barn back to Walker Street, at times. Water was being handed out at One Church as well, where volunteers loaded water into cars.

By 1 p.m., the initial shipment of water had been depleted. However, at about 3 p.m., the City reported that they had obtained three more pallets of drinkable water. Additionally, four pallets of water were donated by the City of Clyde’s Mayor and residents, and the American Red Cross was in route to deliver 33 cases of water.

Non-potable water was available at the City Park, One Church and First Methodist Church. Those needing the non-drinkable water — for things like flushing toilets at home — need to take jugs or buckets to transport the water in.

The City also arranged for portable toilets to be set up at the City Park near the Trade Days barn and at First Methodist, for use by the public.

Many local restaurants closed on Tuesday due to the water issues and remained closed today. A food truck was set up in the Tractor Supply parking lot, and Alfredo’s has their food truck set up in their parking lot and said they would stay open until 9 p.m. or later, if needed, since most of the other restaurants are closed.

According to the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce, the Christmas Parade is still scheduled for Thursday evening in downtown Breckenridge.

Click here to see the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery from today’s State of Emergency activities.

Local residents line up in the Breckenridge City Park to get non-potable water for non-drinking uses during the water outage. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The owners of Alfredo’s opened up their food truck in the parking lot of the restaurant in order to continue serving meals during the City of Breckenridge’s water service outage. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

A work crew was digging out a 16-inch pipe near the water treatment plant to replace a broken valve that was stuck in the “closed” position, preventing treated water from getting to the City of Breckenridge water towers. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Breckenridge Mayor Bob Sims, left, talks to volunteers who were helping load cases of water into cars for local residents at One Church this afternoon. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Portable toilets were delivered to First Methodist Church, as well as the Breckenridge City Park, this afternoon for use by Breckenridge residents who don’t have water at home due to the current water system problems. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Local residents lined up on Old Caddo Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 10, to get cases of drinking water during the City of Breckenridge water outage. Click here to see more photos from around Breckenridge today. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)