WT (Water Topic) >> Water Crisis Galveston - Numerous Hemmorages Associated With Valves Malfunctioning

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Mayor blames water crisis on decaying lines

By Stephen Hadley The Daily News

Published February 18, 2000 12:30 AM CST

GALVESTON - Blaming a crumbling infrastructure, city officials on Thursday ordered residents and businesses to conserve water after a series of malfunctions in the island's water system. "All citizens are mandated to not use water for any other purpose than essential use," said Mayor Roger "Bo" Quiroga. "The state of emergency is expected to last for several days."

Residents should not water lawns, wash cars or use water for anything other than personal hygiene and drinking, officials said.

Brandon Wade, the city's public works director, said the system should be back to normal by early Sunday. Until then, mandatory rationing will remain in effect.

The problems began Tuesday while workers were trying to connect into a new pipeline system to replace the island's antiquated water lines.

Wade said several valves malfunctioned and one of the two water pipelines that serve the island had to be shut down.

On Thursday, water was being pumped to the island via a cast-iron, underwater line the city has used since 1890. That line is riddled with holes.

To make matters worse, a valve at one of the city's four pumping stations also malfunctioned late Wednesday while the city was trying to divert more water to its other stations.

The combination of those problems meant the city's heaviest water users, including apartment complexes, hotels, motels and the University of Texas Medical Branch, had to deal with reduced water pressure Thursday.

They also caused the city to step up its rationing order from voluntary to mandatory.

"This was not a foreseeable condition," Quiroga said of the malfunctions. "The old valves simply have failed to do their job. This is a reflection of the state of our infrastructure."

In an emergency meeting Thursday afternoon, the city council approved spending $40,000 to get the second pipeline working again.

The city of Baytown offered to ship drinking water to residential areas, but city officials don't believe that water will be needed as long as residents and businesses adhere to the conservation measures.

"We actually couldn't have asked for this to happen at a better time of the year," said City Manager Steve LeBlanc. "I know that sounds crazy, but February is the lowest-usage month of the year.

"Of course, we'd never like this to happen, but if it had to happen, this is a good time."

City spokesman Wes Swift said the city's fire department had filled its trucks, has access to another 500-gallon tank and could use water from the Gulf of Mexico if necessary.

"We're OK on that front," Swift said.

The city's water reserves were running at about 25 percent of normal, said public works director Brandon Wade.

The dip in reserves was caused by the numerous hemorrhages associated with the valve malfunctions.

Wade said Thursday afternoon that water supplies were better on the island's West End and at its 53rd Street pumping station. Reserves were lower at the airport and East End stations.

http://www.galvnews.com/NF/omf/freedaily/news_story.html?[rkey=0015374+ssiuname=WebOSTTN+ssipwd=TTN62FC6F49

-- Dee (T1Colt556@aol.com), February 18, 2000

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-- Dee (T1Colt556@aol.com), February 18, 2000.

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