Home | Community | Columbus Utilities Director says "no customer is inconvenienced"

Columbus Utilities Director says "no customer is inconvenienced"

16/03/2012 08:20:00 / Reads: 522 | New today: 1 |

2011 was a difficult year for the water distribution staff. Relocation work associated with the US 31 road project put our crews behind on leak repairs and new service installations.

We prioritized work based upon public impact and customer service and this leak did not adversely affect any customer or any public street, so it was low on our list.

We had previously worked in the area with our own crews and had to call in outside equipment to provide adequate shoring and to help complete the excavation.

Discussions among other staff member during the winter months led to considering doing this work with outside contractors as the lead rather than merely assisting.

No firm schedule was set, but the general plan was to get quotes on this work after the asphalt plants opened in the Spring. As to reasons why we are seeking quotes right now, there is the unseasonably warm weather that we are currently experiencing that will allow construction earlier and, in part, to the concern this leak seems to be generating.

As to the depth of the main, the thirty foot figure I used before was a field person’s estimate made from the top of the previous trench. It seems to have been an exaggeration.

While the water main is reported to be deeper that the usual bury, (Water mains are normally four to five foot deep) our best estimate is that the pipe is ten to fifteen feet deep at the base of the water plant. The plant itself sits another 15 feet higher and surrounded by an berm.

I did not question the number because as we get closer to the building the soil depth can increase. The personnel assigned to repair the leak don’t believe that the leak is so close to the building as to be affected by the berm, and that is why the locate ticket you reference describes an estimated 15 foot excavation depth. (Still waiting on this document)

This is still beyond our capabilities of providing proper trench protection and will still require an outside contractor.

There is a leak. It’s been leaking for a while. Water quality is not compromised. No customer is inconvenienced. The public streets are not endangered. The leak will be fixed.

Keith Reeves

Tagged: Keith Reeves, Water Leak, Columbus Utilities