Water main breaks saw a major decrease over the last several months, according to data shared by the City of Emporia recently.
According to a recent news release from the city, as of September, the city had recorded just 23 water main breaks for the year. This is a significant decrease from the prior year’s total of 65 and the 2023 total of 92.
The city points to its “proactive approach” to upgrading aging infrastructure, namely water lines, over the past several months. Noting the recent work has led to some inconveniences, namely widespread traffic adjustments, officials have emphasized the essential role these projects will play in ensuring quality services for residents for years to come.
In the previously mentioned news release, City of Emporia Public Works Director Dean Grant says, “Each time we complete a project, we’re not just fixing today’s problems — we’re building a stronger system for the future. The results this year show that our investments are paying off, improving reliability for residents and reducing costly emergency repairs.”
City Manager Trey Cocking says, “Infrastructure work is one of those things that people may not notice until it causes disruption, but when we look at the data, it’s clear these projects are making a real difference.”
This report comes as the city is in the midst of the Southeast Transmission water line replacement project, which is set to continue through the fall of next year.
Residents can get more about street work, detours and other traffic matters online at emporiaks.gov/livemap.
