It hasn’t been a great week for Emporia’s waterline network.
Just Thursday, Underground Utilities crews had to repair water mains on Grove between Chestnut and Lawrence, near the site of unrelated work as part of Emporia’s annual Street Rehab process, and on West 15th between Rural and West. Other unplanned work this week has included a main break at Seventh and Arundel on Tuesday.
Between the breaks Tuesday and Thursday, City Manager Trey Cocking led the Q&A with City Staff public meeting Wednesday and discussed Emporia’s water situation, starting with issues getting water from the Water Treatment Plant at 24th and Industrial to the area of biggest demand — Industrial Park 3 in far southeast Emporia.
Cocking didn’t reference the age of the pipes, but most of the breaks the past several years have involved pipes that are anywhere from 60-100 years old. He used the meeting to remind the roughly 40 residents in attendance about the importance of the current 24th and Prairie water main project, which is replacing existing pipe with mains that are up to two feet in diameter, as well as the upcoming Southeast Waterline Transmission project, which will start at 12th and Garfield and will install new pipe to the water tower near South and Carter. Work on 24th and Prairie has been on pause the last two weeks but should resume by early September.
There has been planned water work this week, including a water main repair on Merchant between 18th and Interstate 35 and a water valve repair at Ninth and Lincoln.
