While the pace of water main breaks within Emporia has slowed considerably compared to a week ago, it hasn’t come to an outright halt as of yet.
Emporia Underground Utility crews were called to two breaks Thursday the first occurring in the 2000 block of Morningside Drive just before 9:15 am with the second reported just before 1:10 pm on 24th Avenue east of Prairie Street. Apartments on 24th that carry a 1915 address may have water service disrupted as repairs continue with traffic down to one lane at last word.
The breaks come as the city continues the flushing of hydrants in the northwest corridor, a move that began Tuesday at the request of the city’s incident command team. It also comes with a water watch still in place until further notice meaning voluntary water conservation efforts are being requested.
This includes the city asking residents to avoid outdoor water use between the hours of 4 am and 8 am until further notice. As has been the case throughout the past two weeks, the city is asking residents to report any and all water main breaks immediately.
To report water main breaks during business hours, call Public Works at 620-340-6339. To report water main breaks after business hours, call Lyon County Emergency Communications at 620-343-4225. If you need to call Emergency Communications, you may be placed on a brief hold, depending on the dispatcher call load. To get city notifications, go to emporiaks.gov and connect to MyAlerts through text, email or both.
11:30 am Thursday: EMPORIA WATER: Pace of line failures eases, but water watch remains in place
At least for now, the pace of water main breaks in Emporia has slowed considerably since the city decided to start flushing hydrants in the northwest quarter of town earlier this week.
The city’s incident command team decided on that move Tuesday afternoon. Since then, there have been two breaks — one at 23rd and Hillcrest on Wednesday on what City Manager Trey Cocking calls “a really bad line” and one on West 24th just north of Emporia Middle School early Thursday. Both were fixed within five hours, and the middle school had no reported issues going into classes Thursday morning.
The step of flushing the hydrants was designed to balance pressure issues as the city continues a maintenance and rehab project on the East 12th Avenue water tower possibly through November. Breaks have developed as the city has been pushing more water towards the southeast Emporia tower near South and Carter — and also at a time when the city has had a relatively damp period since early last week, with over an inch of rain at the KVOE studios since Sept. 11 and some places in town getting upwards of 1.5 inches during that same time frame. The hydrants will continue flushing during non-peak times until the water tower project is done on East 12th.
The city’s water watch, which affects all residents and businesses using Emporia drinking water, remains in place until further notice. Conservation measures are requested, specifically for residents between 4-8 am.
To report water main breaks during business hours, call Public Works at 620-340-6339. To report water main breaks after business hours, call Lyon County Emergency Communications at 620-343-4225. If you need to call Emergency Communications, you may be placed on a brief hold, depending on dispatcher call load. To get city notifications, go to emporiaks.gov and connect to MyAlerts through text, email or both.
6:30 am Thursday: Line break fixed outside Emporia Middle School
Concerns about Emporia Middle School operations following a water main break early Thursday have apparently drained away.
The break was reported on West 24th just north of the school after 1 am. The city’s MyAlert notification system said the break was fixed shortly after 6 am, with all water service nearby restored.
5:15 am Thursday: Break under repair just north of Emporia Middle School; residents still asked to avoid outdoor water use between 4-8 am until further notice
Once again, Emporia Public Works crews are starting their work day well before sunrise.
Crews were called to a water main break on West 24th just east of Graphic Arts and just north of Emporia Middle School after 1 am. There is currently no word on whether water service to the school will be affected by the time school starts Thursday morning.
This comes after the city announced the water watch in place since Tuesday morning will remain in place until further notice. In making that announcement late Wednesday afternoon, Communications Manager Christine Torrens also asked residents to avoid any outdoor water usage between the hours of 4-8 am — times that saw higher water demand than normal Wednesday morning, as well as the city’s only water main break of the day at 23rd and Hillcrest. Specifically, Torrens asked residents to avoid activities like landscape irrigation and swimming pool fills.
*Click here for prior KVOE News coverage.
*Click here for a YouTube Short video from the West 24th repair zone.
