Water issues are again front and center for the city of Emporia.
Underground Utility crews were called to the intersection of Prairie Street and Prairie Lane, or between 15th and 18th, around 10 pm after a 20-inch line failed. Repairs were noted as completed shortly after 7:15 am.
This comes as Emporia is getting ready to replace nearly two miles of waterline starting summer 2024, including the section affected by Monday night’s break. The 24th and Prairie replacement project will mean new pipes from the Water Treatment Plant at 24th and Industrial east on 24th to Prairie and then south to 12th. On KVOE’s 8:05 am newscast Tuesday, City Manager Trey Cocking said the city has seen the need and doing its best to meet it.
City Communications Manager Christine Torrens says Prairie Street is now closed from Prairie Lane north to 18th. Cocking says it could take up to a month before traffic can fully return to normal.
Cocking also said the failure caused a “cascade effect” with three other leaks or breaks noted:
*18th and Old Manor
*Canterbury and Huntington
*Flint Hills Technical College main campus. College President Caron Daugherty says this has affected operations — but only for most of the main campus.
The Jones Center at the main campus has water at this time.
7:30-8:30 am Tuesday: Prairie Street water main break fixed
It took around nine hours, but Underground Utility crews have finished repairs on a major water main break from Monday night.
Underground Utility crews were called to the intersection of Prairie Street and Prairie Lane, or between 15th and 18th, around 10 pm after a 20-inch line failed. Repairs were noted as completed shortly after 7:15 am.
City Communications Manager Christine Torrens says Prairie Street is now closed from Prairie Lane north to 18th. That closure is in effect until further notice.
The Prairie Street break isn’t the only waterline trouble spot Tuesday morning. Crews are now planning work on water main leaks at the following locations:
*18th and Old Manor
*Canterbury and Huntington
*Flint Hills Technical College main campus. College President Caron Daugherty says this has affected operations — but only for the main campus.
These leak sites have been isolated. Localized outages and low water pressure may be noted near these areas.
This comes as Emporia is getting ready to replace nearly two miles of waterline starting summer 2024, including the section affected by Monday night’s break. The 24th and Prairie replacement project will mean new pipes from the Water Treatment Plant at 24th and Industrial east on 24th to Prairie and then south to 12th. The cost is estimated at over $4 million. That project could take 15 months or so to complete.
4:30-7:30 am Tuesday: Waterline blows out at Prairie Street and Prairie Lane; other leaks to be repaired Tuesday
Emporia’s waterline network suffered another significant break late Monday night.
Underground Utility crews were called to the intersection of Prairie Street and Prairie Lane, or between 15th and 18th, around 10 pm after a 20-inch line failed. At least 10 feet of pipe split and blew out on the line, which was installed in 1922.
A social media post says the city was able to maintain water pressure. Other details are currently pending. KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
This comes as Emporia is getting ready to replace nearly two miles of waterline starting summer 2024, including the section affected by Monday night’s break. The 24th and Prairie replacement project will mean new pipes from the Water Treatment Plant at 24th and Industrial east on 24th to Prairie and then south to 12th. The cost is estimated at over $4 million. That project could take 15 months or so to complete.
