Middletown officials say underground breaks drained about 500,000 gallons daily; council approves multiple transfers, grants and reappointments

The Middletown Common Council on Tuesday heard from the city's public works commissioner that crews have located numerous underground water-main breaks that, together, were losing "half a million gallons" of finished water per day and approved multiple budget transfers and other routine resolutions.

DPW Commissioner Jacob told the council the city had been pumping from Indigo Creek nearly nonstop for about a month under its water-taking permit and that repairs and camera inspections in sewer and storm lines helped crews find a series of underground breaks. "We've been losing about on top of the drought that we just came out from, we've been losing about half a million gallon per day in our finished water," Jacob said. He credited water department staff'Brian Smith, Scott Mills, Bob Reynolds and Ed Gallon'for working day and night to locate the leaks.

The finding followed an extended pumping effort the city described as necessary to maintain water supplies. Jacob said reservoir levels are now above 90 percent and that flows were returning toward normal after the repairs. He also said the 24-hour pumping increased fuel use and prompted transfers in the water department budget to cover unplanned diesel and other costs incurred during the operation.

Why it matters: large, sustained water losses increase operating costs, can strain capital repair budgets and risk service interruptions for residents. Council members pressed for clarity on the transfers and the departments involved; Alderman McCliner pointed the public to the meeting packet for line-item details.

Council action and key votes

The council passed a series of mostly uncontested resolutions by roll call. Sponsors, seconds and vote outcomes are recorded in the council minutes.

Votes at a glance

- Transfer of funds within the 2024 Water Department budget to cover shortages. Sponsor:…