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Hopewell officials report 1.2 million-gallon overflow after power short, urge improved emergency notification
Summary
City staff told council a shorted power feed at the Hopewell Water Renewal headworks caused an estimated 1,198,000-gallon overflow July 11–12; repairs and temporary power stopped the overflow and preliminary response costs are about $167,000. Councilors pressed staff on notification and long-term repairs.
City staff reported to the Hopewell City Council that the Hopewell Water Renewal (HWR) plant experienced a significant overflow after a short in a primary power feed to the domestic headworks late on July 11. Mike Crocker, director of public works and interim director of Hopewell Water Renewal, said the overflow began at about 11:15 p.m. on July 11 and ceased at about 3:30 p.m. on July 12 when temporary power and bypass pumping were established.
Crocker estimated the volume of the overflow at about 1,198,000 gallons and described the cause as a complete loss of power to the headworks for roughly 16 1/2 hours caused by a shorted primary cable. He showed council images and video of damaged feed wires and said electrical inspection found conduit burrs and hardened PVC glue that likely damaged the cable during installation years earlier.
The city rented equipment and hired contractors to…
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