City Manager restricts outdoor watering following water main break

(July 19, 2006) – City Manager Jim Couch ordered a ban on outdoor watering Wednesday morning after a major pipe, which carries drinking water to taps throughout the City, broke Tuesday. The ban is effective until midnight Thursday.

After the mandatory ban is lifted. the City is asking for voluntary conservation through Friday, July 28.

Repair of the 72-inch main will take approximately a week.  

“The water line break has caused significantly low water pressure in the south, central and west parts of the city,” said Marsha Slaughter, P.E., Oklahoma City Utilities Director. “By restricting outdoor watering, we will optimize water pressure as much as possible for customers who are most affected by the break.”

The break occurred on SE 164 east of Air Depot Boulevard. Ten customers are without water, and many more are impacted by low water pressure. The pipe – the largest in the system – carries 45 million gallons of water every day from the Draper Water Treatment Plant to smaller pipes throughout the system.

According to Slaughter, the City has provided bottled water to the affected customers. “The repair will take approximately five to seven days,” Slaughter said. “We will perform diagnostics to determine why the break occurred.” 

Yesterday marks the third time a break has occurred in the main since April. The first two breaks, which occurred within days of one another, also occurred on SE 164 between Sooner Road and Air Depot Boulevard.

Construction is currently underway on a new transmission main from the Draper Plant, which runs parallel to the 72-inch main. “The 72-inch pipeline is an integral part of the City’s system,” Slaughter said. “The design and construction of this parallel line will create more dependability in the system and lessen impact to the community when inevitable breaks occur.”

Breaks in 72-inch mains are rather uncommon, although City line maintenance crews repair approximately eight smaller mains every day.