Emporia Public Works Crews made quick work of a pair of water main breaks in separate locations early Wednesday.
Simultaneous breaks occurred Wednesday morning near 18th and Wheeler and on Sonora Drive. According to Public Works Director Dean Grant, crews had the repairs on Wheeler, between Flinthills Mall to the west and Flint Hills Care and Rehab and Village School on the east, completed just before 8 am.
Grant says a one to two-inch hole developed in the eight-inch line while the break on Sonora occurred on a six-inch line. Crews initially “pinched” the Sonora line in an effort to reduce the leak and maintain as much water service to the area as possible before completing repairs just before 12:30 pm.
At this time the cause of the breaks are unclear and Grant says it could be due to a number of different factors.
Both breaks come just days after a 20-inch water line blowout at Candlewood Drive Sunday night into Monday morning. The Candlewood break caused the city to lose three million gallons of water, or around 60 percent of its supply, in that time frame.
Thankfully, Grant says Wednesday’s breaks were nowhere near the level of Sunday’s. We will keep you updated on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
6:16 am Wednesday: Water line breaks in west Emporia under investigation
Public Works Director Dean Grant has confirmed water main breaks near 18th and Wheeler and on Sonora Drive. Details on both are currently pending.
The Sonora Drive break is in a residential neighborhood. The break near 18th and Wheeler is essentially between Flinthills Mall to the west and Flint Hills Care and Rehab and Village School on the east.
Location work is coming soon before excavations and repairs. We’ll keep you updated on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
