The entire downtown area of Maysville was without water Thursday after a water main pump line fell victim to a contractor’s machinery, officials said.
According to Maysville Utility Manager Darren Garrison, the pump line was hit by a contractor installing new lines at the intersection of Limestone and Second Streets sometime after noon. By 2 p.m., utility workers were just getting to the break to access the damage, he said. They hoped to have it repaired by late afternoon or early evening.
The new line installation is part of the downtown gas and waterline project which has been underway since early spring.
Columbia Gas is replacing gas mains and service lines from Wall Street to the Simon Kenton Bridge along Second Street, along with some side streets, including Sutton Street, Lower Market, Cherry Alley and Limestone Street. The city is replacing water lines along Second Street from Sutton Street to Government Street.
While service was still in place on top of the hill, Projects Director David Hord said the pump line supplies water to the city’s 2.7 million gallon reservoir and had to be shut down to make the repairs.
Once water service is restored, Hord said residents should watch for a boil water advisory to be issued.
The Maysville Utility Commission owns and maintains approximately 75 miles of underground pipe which move as much as four million gallons of water each day, according to information from /maysvillewaterandsewer.com.
The website also notes ”We are constantly challenged by water main breaks and water service leaks. We try to make it a policy to not have your water supply off for more than eight hours at any water main break. We have dedicated employees that brave the elements to make sure you have water 99 percent of the time.”
