Tuesday, October 31, 2000
Merkel advised to boil
By John Starbuck
Reporter-News Staff Writer
MERKEL — Residents here are advised
to boil their tap water after two pipeline leaks forced the water
supply to be shut off Sunday and Monday.
The stoppages left residents without water
for about nine hours.
Students in the Merkel Independent School
District got a holiday Monday because city crews were unable to
repair the second leak by mid-morning. Most residents could take
showers only if they have water wells.
City Manager Cloy Richards said shifting
soil caused the breaks, which occurred within 20 feet of each
other on the town’s south side in a neighborhood creek bed.
The water supply was turned back on just before noon Monday.
Residents are advised to boil their water
before using it until further notice. Richards said he hopes the
water samples will be declared free of contaminants later this
week.
Workers began repairing the first leak about
7:30 p.m. Sunday. It forced the water to be turned off for three
hours.
Crews returned to the same area before 5
a.m. Monday and found the second leak, which was fixed in about
six hours. Richards said crews were unable to quickly replace
the broken cast-iron pipe because the job could be done only by
feel in knee-deep mud and water.
The city’s water tower should be refilled
before dawn today, Richards said.
Contact regional writer John Starbuck at
676-6728 or starbuckj@abinews.com. Check out our Web site at www.reporternews.com.
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