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BY IVAN SANDERS

CITY OF ELIZABETHTON PIO

A small area of residents has been impacted by a major water line break that happened between 20 and 30 feet under the surface of the CVS Pharmacy pavement at 1161 Highway 19E in Elizabethton.

According to Elizabethton Water Resources General Manager Jonathan Pleasant, his department detected a leak in the system Monday evening, thanks to new AMI zone meters, which helped narrow the issue to the central business district.

Pleasant and his team began searching for the source of the leak that night, continuing into Tuesday and eventually carrying over to Wednesday afternoon. The water resources team began excavating near Blossman Gas to pinpoint the exact location of the break.

Due to the depth of the break, an excavator capable of reaching the damaged section was brought in to expedite repairs.

Around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, Pleasant said they found the line broken completely in half. Due to the location of the break, an area had to be excavated so a trench box could be placed for worker safety, as the loose fill dirt and rocks had to be removed.

Early Thursday morning, an attempt to place a band around the broken line to restore water flow failed, forcing the team to continue repairs, including installing a section of new line and a valve.

Pleasant said he hoped the repairs would be completed sometime later Thursday.

For those who lost water service, a precautionary boil water advisory was issued for residents who experienced low to no water pressure during or immediately after the repair. Residents should bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow it to cool before drinking or using. Boiling water is unnecessary for washing clothes, bathing, or washing dishes.

Pleasant said anyone with questions can call the water resources office at 423-547-6300.