INNISFAIL - For three days work crews from Innisfail’s operations department were scrambling to fix two water main breaks on the east side of town.
The first call on July 29 was for a water main break along 42nd Avenue and 48th Street but immediately after it was fixed the town had another line break on July 30 at 40th Street between 51st and 52nd avenues.
“We’re scrambling our resources to get over there this morning,” said Steven Kennedy, director of operational services for the Town of Innisfail, on July 30. “It is a busy time.”
As it turned out, the breaks at separate locations had different causes.
“The cause (on 40th Street) was from pipe fatigue, so nothing that could be predicted,” Kennedy told the Albertan through an email on July 31.
The water main break on 40th Street impacted one block of residents.
“The break has been repaired and service is back to normal for the residences,” said Kennedy.
He said the problem with the first water main break on July 29 along 42nd Avenue and 48th Street was due to a valve that came loose.
“We went in to do an actual scheduled dig to repair a hydrant, and the water valve that was restrained to the main blew off. We were expecting that to hold, and it didn't hold,” said Kennedy, adding the location of the problem was in front of the Palliser Chevrolet business on 42nd Avenue. “We ended up having to shut down a number of areas.”
However, town work crews had the problem solved and repaired, and running water was returned.
“We've got water supply back to the affected residents or the businesses on the east side of 42nd Avenue,” said Kennedy. “We've got pressure back to everybody and everything is back up and running.”
Kennedy said all impacted residents were under a boil water advisory until Aug. 1.
