The City of Great Falls encountered a water main break on Sunday, March 23rd, near Chowen Springs Park, situated at 801 17th St. S.
In response to this incident, the Public Works Department diverted the water flowing from the break into Chowen Springs Park, which functions as a natural stormwater detention pond, until the necessary repairs could be executed. The water main was effectively repaired and returned to normal operation by 4:30 p.m. on the same day.
When a rupture or crack occurs in a water main pipe, the pressurized water typically escapes to the surface. Such breaks are commonly attributed to external corrosion resulting from age and the presence of corrosive soil conditions.
The water main break in question was identified at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Sunday. Initial measures were taken to reduce water flow in an effort to maintain service to residents while plans for repairs were formulated for the subsequent Monday morning. However, by around 7:00 a.m., the City began to receive reports from residents indicating a disruption in water service. Attempts to adjust the flow in order to restore service proved unfeasible without risking additional damage. Consequently, a full crew was deployed, underground utility lines were mapped, and excavation commenced around 12:00 p.m. The repair work was completed, and normal water service was reinstated by 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
