Water main issues have continued into the early afternoon hours for east Emporia residents.
There had already been two water main breaks before noon, one on East 12th between Whildin and Mary and the other near 10th and Weaver. Shortly after noon, a break developed in the 800 block of Weaver. There is currently no timetable for repairs in the 800 block of Weaver.
Repairs on East 12th and at 10th and Weaver are finished.
11:30 am Saturday: Emporia’s East 12th water main break fixed, but work continues at 10th and Weaver — and in Cottonwood Falls
Public works crews in Emporia and Cottonwood Falls have been busy this weekend.
Emporia has dealt with two significant water line failures. The first was on a 10-inch line on East 12th between Mary and Whildin. Reported shortly after 5:30 am, the line blowout buckled some of the pavement nearby and caused the Legend Estates apartment complex to lose water service — as well as other nearby residents — for about five hours.
Separately, an 8-inch line failed near the intersection of 10th and Weaver around 9:15 am. That line is still being repaired as of 11:30 am. Water service is shut off on Weaver between Sixth and 10th while the repairs continue.
Cottonwood Falls, meanwhile, had “many” water main breaks on Eighth Street and at least one reported Saturday morning. Further details are pending.
8:50 am Saturday: Public Works in early repair stages after 10-inch line fails
East 12th Avenue between Mary and Whildin may be closed until at least lunchtime after a water man break early Saturday.
The break on a 10-inch line was reported shortly after 5:30 am. The city has closed East 12th between Mary and Whildin to give Public Works staffers the space to investigate and repair the water main break, which has led to some buckling of the street pavement. Public Works onsite says the Legend Estates apartment complex will likely not have water service until further notice.
There is currently no reported impact to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks just south of the 12th and Whildin intersection.
Emporia Police are telling drivers not to move the barricade cones or drive through the closure zone, but several drivers have ignored the warnings and driven through.
We’ll have updates on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
6:20 am Saturday: Major water line break reported in northeast Emporia
Part of East 12th Avenue in Emporia is closed to traffic after a major water line break was reported before sunrise.
Emporia Police officers have shut off 12th just west of Whildin to just east of the Legend Estates apartment complex main entrance after the leak was reported shortly after 5:30 am. Both street gutters were full of water and the water had bubbled up above the street surface in several locations in that closure zone.
Emporia Public Works is in the investigation stage. At this time, it’s unclear when repairs will take place, water service can be restored to that area and traffic can return to normal. The size of the affected line is also unclear.
Emporia Police are telling drivers not to move the barricade cones or drive through the closure zone, but several drivers have ignored the warnings and driven through.
We’ll have updates on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
Click here for a YouTube Short video from the scene.
Click here for a YouTube Short of the initial investigation process.
Click here for a YouTube short from 10th and Weaver.
Click here for a YouTube Short from the 800 block of Weaver.
