A boil water order issued after a contractor accidentally punctured a water main along Highway 63 in Hazen on Tuesday, Oct. 27, was lifted Thursday afternoon after testing confirmed the city’s water was safe to drink.
The incident sent municipal workers into an unusually difficult repair operation that continued well into Tuesday night.
Mayor David Hardke said Wednesday that the damage had been repaired and the city’s water system was operating normally. The boil water order was lifted Thursday at 2:31 p.m., a day earlier than he expected, after water samples collected by the city and submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health confirmed the water was safe for consumption.
The problem began when a contractor using underground boring equipment struck a city water main near an apartment complex along Highway 63.
“It was totally an accident, and it punctured our water main,” Hardke said.
City workers initially believed the repair would be relatively straightforward. They located the damage and completed what they thought would be the necessary work in a timely manner, Hardke said.
However, crews then discovered a second problem that proved considerably more difficult to address.
Workers initially expected to complete the repairs before sundown Tuesday, but the additional problem kept them on the job until about 9 p.m.
“This was probably the most problematic repair of an incident that we’ve had in a long, long time,” Hardke said.
Despite the difficulties, repairs were completed Tuesday night, allowing the city to begin the process of testing the water.
“It’s all good now,” he said Wednesday.
Hardke emphasized that the boil water order was issued as a precaution because damage to a water main can create conditions in which contaminants could enter the system.
“Anytime there’s a situation like this, there’s a possibility,” Hardke said. “You have to take precautions for the health and safety of the community. That’s why we felt like the boil order should be placed.”
Water main breaks can cause a loss of pressure in portions of a distribution system, potentially allowing contaminants to enter through damaged pipes or other openings.
“Sometimes you just err on the side of caution,” he said. “It’s the health and safety of our community. That’s just what you have to do.”
While the order was in effect, residents were advised to bring water to a full, rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, preparing food, brushing teeth or other activities in which water might be swallowed.
Concerns about underground boring
Hardke said the incident illustrates the risks associated with installing underground utility lines, particularly along corridors where numerous lines are already buried.
He said contractors regularly perform boring operations along Highway 63, often to install communications infrastructure.
“I don’t know how many times a year we have somebody boring a line, some type of communication line or something down through there,” he said. “There’s so many now already.”
Underground boring allows contractors to install utility lines without digging a continuous open trench, but the work requires careful identification of existing infrastructure to avoid damaging water mains and other utilities.
Hardke said mistakes can occur even when contractors take precautions.
“You always kind of hold your breath when these operations come through, because even under the best circumstances, there could be a misjudgment, and something happens that you hadn’t planned,” he said.
Hardke said this was only the second boil water order Hazen has experienced in approximately seven years. Although such disruptions are relatively infrequent, he acknowledged they are inconvenient and concerning for residents.
