May 16, 2024 |
Photo – Section of pipe to replace portion of failing water line – Courtesy City of Rawlins
Responding to repeated breaks in the high-pressure line that carries drinking water in Rawlins from the treatment plant to the water tanks, city crews replaced 30 feet of failing water pipe on the west side of the city on Tuesday. Until the entire line is replaced, additional ruptures aren’t out of the question, said the city’s public works director.
On Friday, May 10th, the City of Rawlins announced that three holes were found in the high-pressure line that carries water from the city’s treatment plant to storage tanks above the El Rancho-Hospital and Hollow-Scarlet Drive neighborhoods.
The first water main puncture was reported on the evening of May 5th. Rawlins Public Works Director Cody Dill and his team dug down to the pipe and installed a large clamp over the hole. The next morning, Dill found a second puncture which was patched in the same manner.
Later in the week, a third hole was discovered on the same section line. Dill said the poor condition of the steel pipe necessitated replacing a 30-foot portion of the line with PVC.
Dill said the new line was reconnected on Monday evening. The public works director said his team of skilled workers had the pipe replaced in a single day. Dill said the replacement PVC pipe should last indefinitely.
During a recent city-wide rate study, City Manager Tom Sarvey said the Rawlins water system requires approximately $28 million of emergency repair projects, referred to as Priority One. A media release issued by the city on Friday states, “The high-pressure transmission line has been identified as a priority repair for many years due to its fragile condition. This project is on the list as Priority 1, with ideal completion within the next five years.”
Public Works Director Dill said he hopes that the dire state of the high-pressure transmission line moves it up the priority list. Until the entire three miles of pipe is replaced, future ruptures can’t be ruled out.
It’s a race against time. The water transmission line may suffer a catastrophic failure if it isn’t replaced in time. Residents living on the west side of the city would have to rely entirely on water stored in the Painted Hills and hospital tanks until the line is repaired.
Dill said in the event of a catastrophic water main failure, the tanks could provide enough clean drinking water for a week or two with proper rationing. The public works director said his crew should be able to replace the entire line in that amount of time.
Dill said he will not use steel pipe again when the time comes to replace the water transmission line. The public works director said using PVC, or other types of synthetic pipes, will make the line last much longer.
Bigfoot99 asked Dill if Rawlins residents can look forward to more water main breaks in the future. The public works director said he hopes not. However, if a break should occur, Dill said his crews are capable of quickly performing the necessary repairs. The city needs to focus on replacing the failing water lines as fast as possible, said Dill.
Sticking to the topic of water, Dill encouraged residents to use as much water as they can during the wet spring season. The public works director said future water restrictions haven’t been ruled out.
For more information about water restrictions or the state of the city’s water system, call Rawlins Community Relations Manager Mira Miller at 328-4500 extension 1022. In a news release Tuesday, Miller said the goal is to replace the three-mile line in the next two years.
