Critical water line break in Decatur prompts city-wide boil water notice - Wise County Messenger

Critical water line break in Decatur prompts city-wide boil water notice - Wise County Messenger

WATER LINE BREAK — Crews work to isolate a major water leak after a primary water line was struck by contractors installing fiber in the 1200 block U.S. Business 380 at around 9 a.m. Thursday morning. The leak was stopped at noon. DAVID SHERMAN/WCMESSENGER

The City of Decatur is distributing cases of water to residents after a major line break led to water disruptions and a city-wide boil water notice that will remain in effect until at least 5 p.m. Saturday.

The city began distributing water to residents Thursday afternoon, giving away two cases per household. The water distribution points include Decatur City Hall (200 East Walnut St.) and First Baptist Church (200 Preskitt Road) from 3-7 p.m. Thursday. The Decatur Fire Station (1705 South State St.) will distribute water from 8 p.m. until the boil water notice is lifted.

The break occurred after a utility contractor struck a high-pressure, 12-inch line at 9 a.m. near Lowe’s Home Improvement. The pipe is a primary water line located near the city’s water treatment plant, complicating the repair and isolation process.

FLOWING FAST — Water rushes along U.S. Business 380 as responding crews work to repair a line break on a primary water in Decatur. In total, the city estimates it lost 1 million gallons of water during the event. MICAH MCCARTNEY/WCMESSENGER

At noon, crews were able to stop the leak in the 1200 block of U.S. Business 380, but not before severe pressure drops and the loss of approximately 1 million gallons of water, resulting in a boil water notice that led to the closure of Decatur ISD and some area businesses.

The city’s two water towers at Rose Avenue and Thompson Street were taken offline following severe pressure and volume loss. However, by Thursday evening, the elevated water storage tanks were beginning to fill back up and water pressure was returning to normal.

“In terms of pressure we should be back to normal. In terms of quality, we have to go through a series of flushing lines at fire hydrant points,” Mara said. “We’re working through that now. Tomorrow they will pull a sample from a handful of sites and send them off to be tested. Once the samples are lab verified, we can release the boil water notice, provided that all the samples come back within acceptable ranges.”

The city-wide boil water notice went into effect 11 a.m. Thursday and applies to all residents within Decatur’s city limits and any other customers connected to the city’s public water service system.

BOIL WATER NOTICE — The City of Decatur has been placed under a boil water notice. Customers are instructed to bring water to a vigorous, rolling boil for two minutes before consumption.

The notice urges customers to boil water prior to consumption, including when washing hands/face, brushing teeth and drinking. To ensure the destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and ice-making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.

In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

Restroom facilities may be used as normal.

CLOSED — Rooster’s Roadhouse in downtown Decatur and several other restaurants and businesses closed up shop after a water leak led to water service disruptions and a boil water notice Thursday. The city’s boil water notice will remain in effect until at least 5 p.m. Saturday. BRIAN KNOX/WCMESSENGER

Decatur ISD will be closed Friday after releasing early due to the water issue. Buses ran at 1 p.m., and parents were sent a message saying they could pick up their kids immediately. At 1:45 Thursday afternoon, parents received a message that schools would be remain closed Friday due to the boil water notice.

“The boil notice affects food service and drinking water,” the message stated. “These missed days will not have to be made up.”

Wise Health System also announced changes Thursday, including the closure of non-emergency services. Most hospital operations will resume Friday. Wise Health Clinics in Decatur will be closed Friday and Fit-N-Wise will open at noon, with its pools, shower and locker rooms unavailable until the boil water notice is lifted. The Community Health Clinic and Family & Sports Medicine Clinic in Decatur will continue appointments Friday in Boyd and Bridgeport respectively.