Locating Major Breaks, Temporarily Shutting Off WSC Water Proving Effective In Refilling Sulphur Springs’ Water Towers
The City of Sulphur Springs is extending the reward period to 7:08 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, for the 1 million gallons of free water for the first person who calls in any major water break. The award period offered for 24-hours starting Saturday night was to expire at 7:08 p.m. Sunday. While the city water towers are filled, the reward offer of free water up to the first 1 million gallons will continue through Monday night in an effort to locate all potential water issues.
“We are out of the woods, but we want to make sure that we remain there,” Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell said at 2:50 p.m. Sunday.
The reward was initiated Saturday night in an effort to head off water breaks and make sure the city continues to have a sufficient supply of water. The water supply in the city’s water towers was low.
Between water breaks in the city of Sulphur Springs and along rural water supply corporations systems, the city was losing water faster than the City of Sulphur Springs could pump it into the water towers. The city began investigating use of water supply corporations and even turned off North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation’s water from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. in an effort to build the water supply back up and give the company time to investigate for major leaks which would reduce water pressure and flow. The offer of 1 million free gallons of water for city water customers who spot and call in major water breaks in the city was also issued Saturday night.
The first confirmed report was on Church Street at California Street within 2 hours. Two city water leaks had been found by 8:30 a.m. Sunday in Sulphur Springs. At that time, Maxwell said finding the two water leaks and temporarily ceasing pumping to NHWSC were working to help refill the water towers 2/3 of the way full.
Maxwell encourages city water customers to keep watching for and reporting any major leaks they find. No only doing so ensure the towers fill to provide sufficient water to city residents but the city will continue to offer the 1 million gallon reward through 7:08 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, 2021.
“We define a major water break as any break on a city water main not a service lateral unless that lateral is four inches or greater in diameter. Any person who spots a leak should call 903-885-7602 and press 1 for dispatch. This means that a person’s or business’ water will be free until they reach the 1 million gallon mark,” Maxwell said.
While the offer does not apply to sanitation fees, it may also be applied it sewer fees on a gallon for gallon basis if the customer wishes up to a total of 1 million gallons for water and sewer combined. The reward applies to each and every major water break that occurs in the City of Sulphur Springs City limits during the 48-hours beginning Saturday, Feb 20, at 7:08 pm. and ending at 7:08 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, but only applies to the first person who calls in each break, according to Maxwell.
