Water main repairs continue
Hot Springs Municipal Utilities is on schedule to put a 27inch water main back in service by Wednesday, the city of Hot Springs said in a statement released late Monday afternoon.
“The repair is complete to the point that the crew is currently performing a leak test on the area,” the statement said. The city said Friday that the section of 27-inch main had been isolated from the water system to avoid any possible contamination.
The water main runs from the city’s water treatment plant on the upper end of Lake Hamilton to a storage tank on Music Mountain. Putting the pipe back into service, probably on Wednesday, could cause tap water to become cloudy or milky,
the city has said.
The city said Monday it would take several hours to refill the pipe to put pressure on the main in order to complete the test.
“If there are no leaks, concrete will be poured to close the valve,” the city said. A concrete contractor was standing by to pour the concrete Monday night, if no leaks were found.
The city said it anticipates that the first of two bacteria samples will be taken early today and sent to the Arkansas Health Department to test the water quality.
“It takes 24 hours for the test results to be returned. Provided all tests are negative, the main should be activated sometime Wednesday,” the city said.
Utility crews began repairing the two sections of reinforced concrete water main between the treatment plant and the tank the evening of May 9. Repairs to one section of 24-inch pipe were completed the next day. However, a 27-inch pipe crews encountered is an “extremely rare” diameter of pipe, according to Hot Springs Municipal Utilities Director Monty Ledbetter. A repair kit arrived Friday afternoon.
“Repairs sometimes cause cloudy water or stir sediments lying in the bottom of pipes, causing discoloration. There is no associated health risk with these changes of appearance. The sediments are typically minerals, such as iron, manganese and calcium, that settle out of water as it moves through the water system. Cloudy or milky water coming from the tap results from harmless, tiny air bubbles dispersed through the water after a repair. Faucets may sputter until the air dissipates,” the city said in a news release on Friday.
The municipal utilities department offers the following tips to help eliminate the discolored or milky water:
• Run as many cold water faucets as possible simultaneously, including bath tubs, sinks and outside spigots, to clear out any sediment that may have found its way into the service line.
• Do not use hot water or wash light-colored clothing until the water runs clear.
• If the problem does not clear up within a few minutes, it is possible that the sediment in the water main has not settled out yet. In this case, wait an hour or so, and try again. If the water does not clear up within 24 hours, call 321-6200 for assistance.