Serving Whitman County since 1877

City crews battle second pipe break under Main Street

Another break in the city’s main water supply pipe last Wednesday sent water gushing to the surface and shutting down Main Street traffic for most of the day.

A lineal rupture in a 10-inch connector pipe was found to be the cause of the leak.

The pipe had apparently been leaking for some time and the buildup in pressure led to a morning breakout in the southbound lanes of Main in front of J & J Building Supply.

The water pressure arched rows of decorative bricks along the sidewalk on the opposite side of Main.

Traffic on Main Street was detoured to Mill Street.

Because semi trucks cannot pass side-by-side on Mill, an alternating one-way traffic system was used.

City, county and state officers and volunteers helped direct the traffic.

The faulty pipe length was replace.

Tuesday, city crews returned to a break on S. Main and replaced a faulty valve with a length of 12-inch pipe.

Public Works Director Andy Rodgers said the crew later this week plans to excavate one-lane segments at the N. Main breakout site where a surface bulge, probably caused by pressure before the water gushed to the surface, remains.

Crews will check for additional damage and make any needed repairs, he said.

 

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