OCWA Water Pipe Repair May Extend Into January

Key Takeaways

• Repair work on a ruptured water transmission line in Cicero, New York, is expected to continue into the first full week of January
• Residents and businesses in six Central New York towns are required to conserve water due to the rupture
• The Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA) is working to complete the repair job in two weeks, rather than the usual month
• Water consumption has been reduced, and extra water is being pumped from Otisco Lake and the cities of Syracuse and Oneida to stabilize the system
• Local schools may be affected if repairs are not completed by January 5, when thousands of students are set to return to school

Introduction to the Water Shortage
The rupture of a water transmission line in Cicero, New York, has left six Central New York towns with a mandatory conservation notice, directing residents and businesses to reduce non-essential water usage. The Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA) is working to repair the line, but the process is expected to take longer than initially anticipated. According to Jeff Brown, the executive director of OCWA, the timeline for the repair job has not been "firmed up," and there is a good chance that it will go into the week of January 5.

The Repair Process
Construction work on the repair is expected to begin "in earnest" next week, with a large pile driver being delivered to the worksite near Northern Boulevard and East Taft Road. Massive amounts of steel sheeting are also arriving over the weekend, which will be used to block off the area around the broken pipe. A multi-person crew will start using the pile driver on Monday to force the steel sheets 40 feet into the ground, creating a 150-foot trench that will be walled off. Once the trench is secure, a series of pumps will remove excess water, and the new pipe can be laid. Water can begin flowing after it is flushed and inspected.

Conservation Efforts
The mandatory conservation notice has been effective in reducing water consumption, with customers using less water than usual. Extra water is also being pumped from Otisco Lake and the cities of Syracuse and Oneida to stabilize the system. The reservoirs in Manlius, which are typically filled with 50 million gallons of water, have been holding steady at about 18% of capacity for the past three days. Brown said that the conservation efforts are critical to stabilizing the system and that it is essential to continue reducing non-essential water usage.

Impact on Local Communities
The water shortage is affecting local communities, with some areas more vulnerable to losing water than others. The southern part of the village of Manlius, the northern portion of the town of Pompey, and parts of the village of Fayetteville are the most at risk. Crews have adjusted an emergency pump to provide better water pressure to sections of DeWitt, but the situation remains critical. The county emergency management department has been in touch with school officials, and OCWA will also reach out soon to discuss the potential impact on local schools.

Previous Repair Attempts
Brown provided additional information about earlier efforts to restore water service. Crews first noticed a leak in the massive pipe, known as the Eastern Branch Pipeline, last week and were able to fix it. However, a second leak was discovered, which proved to be much more difficult to fix. Crews tried to place metal sheeting around the pipe and then encase it in concrete, but the temporary repairs were unsuccessful. It was determined that the pipe needed to be replaced, and the agency announced the issue on Saturday, asking customers to use less water.

Conclusion and Next Steps
The repair work on the ruptured water transmission line is a complex and time-consuming process. While the OCWA is working to complete the job as quickly as possible, it is essential for residents and businesses to continue conserving water to stabilize the system. The agency will provide updates on the progress of the repair work, and local communities will be informed about any changes to the conservation notice. In the meantime, residents and businesses are encouraged to share their experiences and concerns with the OCWA and local authorities.