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Ashland officials describe emergency repair of major water-line leak; city reports roughly $119,400 in immediate costs
Summary
City staff reported an emergency repair to a large water transmission line near the Devore Hill tank, replacing a damaged 24-inch section with fused polyethylene and installing a temporary shutoff using a line-stop. Officials said the work preserved system pressure and disinfection capability; final dress-up and follow-up work remain.
The Ashland Board of Commissioners heard a detailed after-action report on an emergency water-line failure tied to the Devore Hill tank and associated 24-inch and 36-inch transmission mains.
Director Hall presented the overview, saying the failure began when a leak on a large transmission line caused ground movement that compromised a separate 24-inch main. The city hired a contractor to perform an emergency shutoff using a line stop and to replace the damaged section with fused polyethylene pipe to restore flow and system reliability. “This is an excellent way to do the repairs,” Director Hall said of the fused polyethylene pull-in method and the contractor’s work.
The nut of the incident: the affected tank is part of the plant’s clear well and a key high point for system pressure and disinfection. City staff said they initially feared losing service to many customers when the tank was taken offline; distribution-system redundancies installed in recent years prevented that outcome. City staff used a contractor, CJ Hughes, to install a temporary line stop, pour concrete restraint blocks to secure the new polyethylene pipe, and pull a continuous 24-inch fused section down the bank for connection.
City officials gave a cost summary: the fused-pipe replacement work was recorded at about $113,000, and an associated repair on the larger 36-inch pipe — performed while the contractor was on site — was approximately $6,400. Staff said earlier estimates had ranged higher ($150,000–$160,000), but the final invoices were lower than that early projection. The contractor-installed line stop remains part of the apparatus used to isolate the leak; staff noted that fully operating the stop in the future requires contractor assistance to reinstall the locking piece of the device, so it is not an ideal permanent valve.
Commissioners and the mayor repeatedly commended utility crews, the contractor, and supporting city departments for round-the-clock work to control the leak and restore service. Director Hall and the city manager said final surface restoration and seeding of the slope remain to be completed; staff said they will return with any final cost reconciliations if additional invoicing is required.
Ending: Staff characterized the repair as successful in preventing wider outages and said the city will evaluate any additional valve or permanent isolation options to reduce contractor dependence for future shutoffs.
