July 2018 was the hardest on Emporia’s water system in the city’s recorded history, although records haven’t been tracked for that long.
Public Works Director Frank Abart says there were 21 water main failures last month, breaking the prior mark of 17 water main failures in August 2012. All of the water main breaks took place since July 10.
The city began tracking water main breaks on a monthly basis in 2012.
It’s not cheap to fix a broken water main. Abart says it can cost up to $5,000 to repair and replace small water mains. On the other side of the spectrum, 20-inch water main breaks can cost the city anywhere from $40,000 to $45,000 each, depending on excavation, pipe and street repairs and personnel costs.
City residents have expressed their frustration about Emporia’s water mains on KVOE’s social media, and they have also mentioned concerns about the potential for increased monthly fees to offset the extra costs. City Manager Mark McAnarney says there are no plans to increase fees at this time.
McAnarney says the city tries to maintain a reserve of 20 percent in its water-related funds, and the city is constantly analyzing its five-year plan to see what changes may be needed before determining whether to change rates.
The city passed a 15-percent increase in base water and consumption rates in December, translating to an expected $675,000 in revenue to the city, a 23-percent reserve mark and average monthly increases of around $6.50 for residents. That move was the first increase of water fees since 2009 and the first increase for wastewater fees since 2007.
