Their cup no longer runneth over

By Meg Olson

Residents of the west side of Cliff Drive have a new water main that the water district hopes will end an epidemic of costly water main breaks.

“The water line is completed as far as laying in the ground and tied in,” water district manager Dan Bourks told commissioners at their February 9 meeting. “We plan to energize Monday.” The district commissioners took emergency action January 21 to replace 800 feet of water main after a rash of breaks. Final costs have not been determined but Bourks said he is estimating approximately $75 per foot, or $60,000.

Meanwhile other areas continue to be plagued by breaks in aging water mains. Prior to the district’s decision to take emergency action the west section of Cliff Drive was part of a project to replace 7,000 feet of water main in areas prone to main breaks. The project has been on hold while district staff works to secure funding.

The district currently has $1.2 million in reserve but Bourks has said it would be fiscally irresponsible to draw that fund down below a year’s worth of operating expenses and debt service, and he would rather see closer to $3 million in reserves to prepare the district for catastrophic emergency, such as an earthquake. “You need to get water running again and what do you do if you run out of money?” he asked.

Bourks said he had not been able to pursue funding options while scrambling to control main breaks. “I’ve been pretty much busy with this project,” he said. There have been three water main breaks, all in areas on the list for main replacement, since commissioners took emergency action to replace the Cliff Drive main.

Commissioner Scott Hackleman added he was hopeful federal funding was going to be available to match amounts the district was currently spending.

“That’s still underway?” asked the commissioner. “Absolutely,” Bourks said in response.