Construction crews worked to dig up the water line to put a clamp around the water line that broke at the Downtown Plaza on Sixth Street. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
Crews from Knife River Construction dig to reach a water line that broke near Magellan’s Restaurant at the Downtown Plaza on Sixth Street. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
City Engineer Kul Sharma said the leak was coming from a water line that provided service to Magellan’s Restaurant at 15 E. Sixth St. He said city officials estimate that the lead pipe was installed in 1920, and developed a leak due to its age.
When the leak was discovered on Monday, Sharma said there was some concern it could have been coming from one of the newly installed water lines at the Plaza. He said city workers discovered the leak the deteriorating pipe.
“We opened it up and repaired it,” Sharma said.
The next step will be to reevaluate and possibly replace the pipe, which the city might do during a separate project, he said.
Sharma said they have not determined how much water was loss due to the leak.
A temporary cover was placed over the hole and Sharma said the pavement won’t be replaced until the area dries up and the surrounding ground firms again.
• Contact Denise Ellen Rizzo at 830-4225 or drizzo@tracypress.com.
LEAD PIPE?