Water pressure surge affects 40 Gainesville homes and businesses
photo by Sue Ann Jones Gainesville City maintenance workers Mike Davis, right, and Logan Vaught stand at the corner of Elm and Third Streets while working on a broken water main last week during brutally cold temperatures after a busted frozen water regulator part caused an increase in pressure that caused widespread damage.
They say when it rains, it pours. In Gainesville last week, freezing temperatures turned that old adage on its head as a pressure surge caused water heater valves to pop off and pipes to burst at more than 40 homes and businesses across town, causing a real mess for both city workers and residents in the coldest conditions we’ve experienced this winter.
The issue that led to the surge
City officials have determined that last week’s water pressure issues in Gainesville were caused by a freeze-related failure in a pressure regulator that had been installed as a precaution during water system work that began last summer.
According to city officials, the regulator was installed when the city’s old central water tower was taken out of service in preparation for a new water tower to be built in its place.
The regulator device is designed to regulate water pressure in the center district when the east side of town is feeding that central system, as it has since the old central water tower has been out of service. The regulator is not typically used during winter months, but rather in emergency situations or as a safeguard.
A small frozen part, a big mess
On Monday morning, Jan. 27, between approximately 9:30 and 10 a.m., a small component on the regulator froze and burst, causing a sudden increase in water pressure throughout parts of the system. This caused an unusually high amount of water pressure in water lines in downtown Gainesville businesses and homes, leading to hot water heater valves popping off and some pipes bursting, causing flooding and water damage.
City Water Specialist Jessi Price said that once the issue was identified, city crews opened fire hydrants in the central area of town to relieve pressure while repairs were underway. A replacement part was ordered and installed later that day by Cary Stewart Construction of West Plains, restoring the system to normal operation.
40 homes and businesses affected
Price estimates that about 40 “water services,” or city water customers, were affected by the pressure spike. The impacted properties included a mix of homes and businesses, primarily located in and around the central portion of Gainesville. In addition to the pressure issues at individual services, the city experienced three separate water main breaks, several of which required repeated repairs in various places in the line due to the intense pressure during the time the regulator was inoperable.
Price said that most people who contacted City Hall about the issue reported their pressure relief valves on their hot water heaters activated and discharged water as a result of the high pressure. However, some properties did experience more significant issues, including damaged pipes and flooding, she said.
Customer water bills will be adjusted,
and a city insurance claim has been initiated
Using the city’s new electronic water meter system, staff were able to identify accounts with unusually high water usage during the incident, and Price says she’s proactively reached out to property owners who may not have initially reported problems or realized they had sustained damage.
All three members of the city’s maintenance crew worked more than 20 hours of overtime last week responding to leaks, repairing water mains and clearing roads in difficult winter conditions.
Mayor Gail Reich said the city recognizes the disruption and inconvenience caused to residents and businesses and has taken steps to address the impact. As an initial measure, the city will refund water usage associated with the incident to all affected customers.
In addition, the city has initiated an insurance claim to address damages related to the pressure surge, Price says. Officials urge any residents or business owners who experienced water pressure-related damage and haven’t contacted City Hall yet to do so as soon as possible. Reports help the city fully document the scope of the incident and ensure affected accounts are properly adjusted.
Pressure regulators and shut off valves
Officials also remind Gainesville residents that a city ordinance adopted in April 2021 requires pressure regulators and customer-side shutoff valves for all new water connections within the city limits.
While not required for older connections, city officials say they also strongly encourage property owners without pressure regulators to consider installing one as a preventative measure for instances like last week’s event.
Price says a customer-side shutoff valve is a good idea, as it allows property owners to shut off their own water supply at any time without needing assistance from city staff, which can help minimize damage during emergencies.
For more information, call City Hall at 417-679-4858 or stop by the office, located on the northwest corner of the Gainesville square, during business hours.