Hays city employees were called out for another water leak early Thursday morning, this time just south of the 22nd and Vine Streets intersection.
Water Resources Director Jeff Crispin attributes the recent spate of water line leaks to a rainy summer and the remediation project of the water tower near Sternberg Museum, 3000 Sternberg Drive.
“The ground shifts quite a bit with the rain that we’ve had. It also happens when there’s been no rain,” Crispin explained to city commissioners Thursday night.
The other factor is the empty water tower south of Interstate 70. “Not only is that a source of water for us but it also helps regulate pressure within the system so you do have situations where there are sometimes leaks. That’s just part of our infrastructure that we deal with. Without that tower some of the pressures are difficult,” said Crispin.
Lead remediation and repainting of the one-million gallon tower began July 15 and was expected to be completed within six weeks.
Crispin told commissioners he hopes the large water tower will be back in service next week.
(Read more: Hays Post)