Town hears about million‑gallon water loss and upcoming pump-station bids

Saltville’s public works director told the council Jan. 13 that the town has experienced large unexplained water losses and is pursuing diagnostic testing and engineering assistance.

Public Works Director Brandon Frye said the system’s losses amount to about one million gallons and that a meter on the Washington County side was producing readings that suggested the system was losing more than 20,000 gallons an hour during some events before flow returned to normal. “It is about a million gallons in loss and with the significant drop it is losing over 20,000 gallons an hour which would indicate a major leak but then it just stops,” Frye said. He told council members he is tracking the valley meter and hopes to have engineers perform smoke testing to locate the leak source.

Frye also reported hiring a new water-and-sewer employee with 13 years’ experience at the Washington County public authority; he said that experience should help operations while diagnostics and repairs proceed.

Town Manager Cecile Rosenbaum briefed the council on two related projects: pump-station bids were advertised and will be opened at the Feb. 10 meeting, and VRA paperwork for project closeout must be filed by March 31, 2026 to avoid triggering additional audit work. Rosenbaum said the meter-replacement portion of the project is nearly closed pending adoption of resolutions at the Feb. 10 meeting and completion of final paperwork.

Council discussion emphasized diagnostics and timely engineering input; no formal motion or funding decision was taken on Jan. 13.