Pasture and crop-land are not the only thing the record-breaking, months’-long drought is causing to crack.
Over the space of three days, the City of Centralia experienced five water main breaks, occurring in the east-central area, especially the east end of Singleton, where two occurred, one on each side of the Singleton-Jefferson Street intersection.
City water department employees working to repair a leak.
The leaks resulted in one city boil advisory, from 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 11, through 5 p.m., Thursday July 13.
Age and the effects of the drought were the cause, Matt Rusch, city of Centralia Director of Public Works & Utilities said.
“The extremely dry weather has been a big part of the issue,” he said.
The ground has been contracting because of the drought causing pipes to shift and the old ones, the weight of the ground and its movement pushes and pulls on old valves and pipes, they lose support causing cracks and leaks. The majority of the leaks were in a five-block area.”
Starting Sunday, July 9, Rusch said the city water system experienced five leaks, the first on Collier Street.
For the complete article, see next week’s edition of the Centralia Fireside Guard.
