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   The City of Walker would like to provide an update regarding yesterday afternoon’s emergency water main break and thank the many individuals who responded quickly to minimize the impact on our community.

   At approximately 4:00 p.m. yesterday,(July 8) a water main break occurred in the area of Highway 371 and Tiana Drive, within the active construction zone of the City’s West Side Project. This project is replacing aging water infrastructure that has reached the end of its useful life.

   As crews investigated the break, they discovered that the damaged section of water main had originally been installed in the late 1980s using construction practices that no longer meet today’s standards. The failure occurred at a 90-degree connection that was held in place solely by the compacted soil surrounding it. There were no bolts, restraints, or other mechanical devices securing the connection, and there was no documentation indicating how this portion of the water main had originally been constructed.

   Once the cause was identified, our contractors acted immediately to isolate the water main, shut off water service to the affected area, remove the water that had filled the excavation, and complete the necessary repairs. From the time of the break until repairs were completed, the entire emergency response took approximately four hours.

   While repairs were underway, City staff worked to ensure residents received timely information. Administrative staff contacted impacted property owners by phone, and Walker Police Department officers went door-to-door or called residents who were unavailable. City Hall’s voicemail greeting was updated to direct callers to the City’s Facebook page, where updates were posted throughout the incident as information became available.

   The City extends its sincere appreciation to our construction contractors for their quick response and professionalism throughout the emergency. We are especially thankful that the incident was resolved safely and that no injuries occurred.

   We also want to recognize the outstanding efforts of our City employees. Administrative staff, Public Works personnel, and Police Department staff all remained on duty beyond their normal working hours to notify residents, answer questions, coordinate the response, and assist with the repair effort. Their teamwork and dedication helped ensure the situation was resolved as safely and efficiently as possible.

   We understand that an unexpected water shutoff is inconvenient and appreciate the patience and understanding shown by our residents and businesses. While emergency situations like this are never anticipated, they can occur when replacing aging underground infrastructure. Projects such as the West Side Project are designed to identify and correct deficiencies that are hidden beneath the surface before they result in larger, more disruptive failures in the future.

   The City of Walker thanks everyone for their cooperation and patience throughout this emergency and remains committed to keeping the public informed as construction on the West Side Project continues.

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