Cleanup continues at Emporia’s Greenbriar Estates after a 10-inch water main failed in impressive fashion early Thursday, while water service has been fully restored to that area of town.
For about half an hour, spray from a water main break on a 10-inch line shot up at least 30 feet into the air on West 24th just east of Prairie. The break was noticed around 4 am and was shut off by 4:30 am.
This break is in a part of Emporia that has seen several significant water main breaks the past two to three years. Public Works Director Dean Grant says the 24th and Prairie waterline replacement project, set to begin this summer, will mean new pipe from 24th and Industrial east to Prairie and south to 12th. That project could last through 2025.
Grant also sees another benefit: it gives the water “room to breathe.”
The spray from Thursday’s line failure damaged some siding, grass and several windows at 2030 Greenbriar. That property and Four Seasons Apartments were among several residential areas near the failure zone that lost water Thursday morning. Neighborhoods across Prairie were also affected. It took over eight hours to get water service back to normal.
8:15 am Thursday: Four Seasons apartments, Greenbriar Estates impacted by water main break early Thursday
There is still a significant water outage zone involving part of northwest Emporia, even though the immediate line has been turned off.
A 10-inch line failed on West 24th just east of Prairie around 4 am. A roughly 30-foot spray damaged some siding and windows for at least one address at the Greenbriar Estates for about half an hour afterward.
Initially, the city said Prairie Street service is offline from Shaeffer Way north to Interstate 35 as well as Hillcrest south to 22nd and Prairie from 22nd to Flint. Now City Communications Manager Christine Torrens says the outage zone involves Prairie from 22nd to 24th and also 24th from Prairie east to Lincoln. This still involves the Greenbriar Estates properties as well as the entire Four Seasons apartment complex.
5:15 am Thursday: Brief geyser develops after water main break outside Greenbriar Estates
Northwest Emporia had an impromptu geyser for a short time early Thursday.
For about half an hour, spray from a water main break on a 10-inch line shot up at least 30 feet into the air on West 24th just east of Prairie, sending water over at least three addresses at the Greenbriar Estates. Emporia Police and Public Works say there was some siding and window damage. Flooding impact is currently unclear.
The break was noticed around 4 am and was shut off by 4:30 am. However, the water outage extends well beyond just the immediate Greenbriar location. Public Works says Prairie Street service is offline from Shaeffer Way north to Interstate 35. This also affects Hillcrest south to 22nd and Prairie from 22nd to Flint. There is no immediate word on whether the Four Seasons apartment complex just east of Greenbriar Estates is affected.
