Elkins under boil water advisory
Water line breaks along Davis AvenueBy CARRA HIGGINS, Staff Writer
Article Photos
It's been nearly a year since the block of Davis Avenue between Third and Fourth streets were flooded as the result of a broken water line. Wednesday, at approximately 6:45 p.m. water began flowing through the same block after a 12-inch water line split 21 feet, according to the Elkins Water Transmission and Distribution Department.
Wednesday evening City Operations Manager Bob Pingley estimated that 4,500 gallons of water were being lost each minute. Around 7 p.m., the Elkins Fire Department and city employees turned off the water to the block.
When the line broke, the street was lined with several parked cars. Vehicle owners had to leave restaurants, wade through murky water and move their cars elsewhere.
After one car had moved, a portion of street had caved in the shape of tire track and Davis Avenue appeared to have bubbles under the asphalt. City Councilman Tom Hensil, 2nd Ward, stepped on one of the bubbles, which bowed under his weight.
City crews worked until 2 a.m. today to replace the portion of the water line that had split. At 8 a.m. today, the Elkins Street Department was making repairs to the road damaged by the water and line replacement.
Water to the block has been re-connected, however customers serviced by the Elkins Water Department and Leadsville Public Service District are on a boil water advisory. Samples of the water have been sent to a lab in Clarksburg to determine if the water is sanitary. The water department hopes to receive the results today and plans to notify media outlets when the boil water advisory is lifted.
