Sewer loan closed; city staff flag recurring water-line leaks and recommend targeted replacements
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Summary
City Administrator Kent Manton reported closing the sewer loan and a pre-construction meeting; public works reported repeated leaks on an aging 6-inch main with 22 work orders since 2020 and recommended prioritized line replacement and GIS leak detection to reduce water loss.
Bruceville-Eddy — At the Sept. 26 meeting the city said it has closed the loan financing for a new sanitary sewer system and held a pre-construction meeting with contractors. Staff said the construction contract anticipates 1–2 years for implementation and that the first payment, just under $700,000, was mailed.
Public works and water operations staff described a separate but urgent issue: recurring leaks and water loss on several mains. Staff identified one 6‑inch main that has generated 22 work orders since 2020 (reported in a homeowner’s backyard) and said the system has suffered an 8‑inch main break that drained a tank. The department reported that visible leaks, emergency repairs and nighttime callouts have increased operational strain and water-loss metrics.
Public works recommended a targeted plan: prioritize worst sections for replacement (including moving lines into the right-of-way where feasible), consider upsizing problem mains, and adopt GIS-based leak-detection or monitoring tools to identify buried leaks. Staff cautioned that some repairs require shutting service to areas and that rocky backfill increases cost and difficulty; council asked staff to produce a prioritized mitigation plan and cost estimate.
On PFAS testing for water sources, staff said groundwater wells tested negative, while a small detection appeared in purchased water from a regional supplier; staff will proceed with class-action settlement steps where appropriate and continue monitoring.
What’s next: Public works to bring a prioritized list of critical pipe segments, cost estimates, and potential funding options for council consideration; sewer project will move forward to construction after the engineer clears contractor schedules.