Residents in a small section of Elizabethton are grappling with the aftermath of a significant water line break, with the occurrence having been pinpointed beneath the CVS Pharmacy at 1161 Highway 19-E. The leak, according to Jonathan Pleasant, the General Manager of Elizabethton Water Resources, was initially detected on Monday evening. In a statement obtained by Elizabethton's official news channel, Pleasant attributed the early detection to advanced AMI zone meters that assisted his team in narrowing down the leak's location to the central business district.
The Water Resources team searched to precisely locate the source of the water line break from Monday night through Tuesday, eventually leading into Wednesday afternoon. At this time, the crew began excavation near Blossman Gas, where the damaged line lay some 20 to 30 feet underground. The complexity of reaching such depth necessitated bringing in an excavator capable to securely excavate to the level of the break.
The task proved challenging when, on Wednesday night around 10:45 pm, as Pleasant told Elizabethton's news outlet, they finally located the line, which was found "broken completely in half." The subsequent repair work required excavating an area large enough to safely insert a trench box, accounting for the precarious mix of loose fill dirt and rocks that were removed. Efforts to fix the line yesterday were met with difficulties, as an initial attempt to secure the line with a band was unsuccessful, leading to the need to install a new section of pipe and a valve to seal the breach.
With residents facing interrupted water services, Pleasant issued a precautionary boil water advisory for those who experienced low or no water pressure during, or immediately following, the repair. He advised bringing tap water to a boil and letting it boil for one minute, then allowing the water to cool before consumption. Nonetheless, Pleasant assured residents that boiling was unnecessary for washing clothes, bathing, or washing dishes. Any concerns or queries are being directed to the water resource office, accessible at 423-547-6300.
