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Water main work continues in Melfort

Jan 22, 2019 | 8:04 AM

Repair work continues on water main breaks that occurred over the last few days in Melfort. 

Crews were busy on Monday focusing on the break on 3rd Ave. S. and the 200 block of Saskatchewan Drive.
 
Director of works and utilities, Gerald Gilmore, told notheastNOW ​that repairs should be complete on 3rd Ave. by noon today.

Crews anticipate completing the repair on the 200 block of Sask. Dr. block by todays end.

“The main water line for most of the businesses is in the back alley on Sask. Dr. E.making it more challenging as all utilities are located in the back alley along with our water and sewer lines,” Gilmore said.

Once those two lines have had water restored crews will then move over to Northcott Ave. to work on a third water break.

There are a few different factors that contribute to the frequent water main breaks in the city. One factor being the plasticity index in the soil that expand and contract as temperatures change.

“Our soil in Melfort are high in hot soils that are corrosive, the ground expands and contracts a lot and the age of the pipes themselves correlate into a problematic system,” Gilmore said.

The cast iron pipes are 60 to 80 years old and are bolted together with a friction fit whch makes them susceptible to ground movement.

Potable water can be picked up at the Northern Lights Palace by residents and businesses being effected by the breaks. Normal hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Salvation Army building, which is located on the corner of the 200 block of Sask. Drive, is without water and has had to cancel Tuesday’s Rotary Club lunch as well as this Wednesday’s outpost meal. The noon-hour out-post meal held at noon each Wednesday will resume next week.

There is a new replacement fund by the federal and provincial government this year, which Gilmore says they are encouraged by. “We have a large replacement submission and look forward to being engaged with the ministry later this year,” Gilmore said.

 

angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: Angie_Rolheiser