Village of Herkimer Water Update

HERKIMER, N.Y. — The Village of Herkimer released an update on the water situation late Friday. 

The post, on the village’s Facebook page, gave residents more information on the process underway to fix a broken water main.

”Due to the specific location of the water main break, immediate repairs could not be carried out in the usual timeframe. This delay is attributed not only to the difficult access but also to the type of pipe involved. The existing pipe, installed in the 1920s, is uncommon and makes parts difficult to find. We were able to successfully locate the necessary pipe and specialized fittings. Village employees were sent to retrieve these materials today. While the Village typically maintains a supply of pipe and fittings for routine repairs, this particular project requires three 20 foot sections of pipe, with a combined weight exceeding 8,000 pounds. As you can imagine, these materials are not readily available through local suppliers.

Due to the scale and complexity of the repair, the project must proceed in accordance with specific procedural and regulatory requirements. This includes coordination with the New York State Department of Health, state engineers and the Village’s contracted engineering firm. As part of the preparation, an access path was constructed down a ravine to facilitate the safe transport of heavy equipment and materials to the worksite.

I also want to address the signage recently seen throughout Herkimer. These notices are mandated by the State of New York and DO NOT reflect a lack of water supply. The Village’s water system is functioning within normal operating parameters. The only difference is we are currently operating using only one of our two primary water sources.

Please keep in mind the site is on private property. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to complete these necessary repairs. We are continuing to work throughout the weekend, and I will continue to keep you updated throughout the repair process

Acting Water Superintendent

Matt Spisak

Mayor Dana Sherry”