Last Updated: 3:51 p.m.
A contractor for the high-speed internet company Metronet whose boring machine punctured Flagler Beach’s main water line Wednesday morning, cutting off water to the city, did so again this morning, 100 yards west of yesterday’s mistake. The puncture again sent potable water gushing into a ditch, forcing the city to shut down service to enable repairs. But the break was not as severe as Wednesday’s.
The mainland, west side of the city was again without water, while the barrier island was under a conserve-water caution, as supplies from the water tower at the south end of town and a 1 million-gallon tank near downtown were limited.
In mid-afternoon, the city’s Jim Ramer said in an internal memo that the water pressure on the mainland did not fall significantly, with water shut off only for the zone around Flagler Square.
Flagler Beach City Commissioner Rick Belhumeur was using a water hose at a property on Leslie Street today at midmorning when the water cut off. He drove the short distance to State Road 100, and saw the water bubbling out of the ground again near a drain by the entrance sign to Flagler Square, the shopping center. On Tuesday, the Metronet contractor had struck the water main in the area between Sherwin Williams, the paint store and the CVS pharmacy, on the south side of State Road 100.
It did so, twice, even though the area all along that side of State Road 100 is a small forest of dark blue flags indicating the location of the water line. Either the flags were planted in the wrong place, or the crew misread them.
The city issued an alert in late morning, reporting that it was receiving numerous calls about the water pressure dropping across the city. Just before noon, the city confirmed the repeat break: “A water main break occurred near the Flagler Square shopping area on the west side of the intracoastal, affecting the entire City. This incident is a repeat occurrence from yesterday,” the city said. “Water has been shut off on the west side/mainland. [That proved to be an overstatement, according to the Ramer memo.] The barrier island side of the City still has access to a water supply. Residents and businesses are encouraged to be extremely conservative in their water consumption. The public works crews are actively working on restoring services. Updates will be provided through the website and Facebook.”
Jennifer Crews, the city’s public works director, was at the scene of the break with a crew, having hurriedly and efficiently targeted the problem area and gotten an excavator to drill a rectangular cavity that would allow workers to fix the piping. The work was taking place right at the entrance of the shopping center, requiring that entrance to be closed to traffic. The Metronet contractors were taking a break, their vehicles lining the road, including the boring machine that had caused both issues.
On Wednesday, water was restored within a few hours. The west side of the Intracoastal was under a boil-water advisory after the water was restored. The same is expected today.
More images will post shortly.
Annoyed says
How much do they have to pay in fines and for services lost?
Alic says
I think it is time they are fined and maybe then they will be more careful what they are doing.
JimboXYZ says
Good thing there’s a forecast of next 5 days of rain for afternoon thunderstorms & showers ? If it happens, city/county wide, that should more than make up for the 2 water main breaks. Planet Earth is like that, relatively recycles the water.
Mothersworry says
Well, this is getting to be a real shit show! About time for the city to assign sombody with some knowedge regarding the location of the obviously flagged pipes as the drillers are not capable of staying the heck away from them. Or demand that the enity that did the flagging be present to further instruct the operater as to where the water main is.
This is totally unacceptable! A break a day isn’t making it. Who is liable for the lose of business due to the lack of water?
1
B says
What the hell is going on with these clowns?
Bob Zeitz says
Could be the water main is not in the right place or depth !
Chuck says
Exactly Bob Zeitz. Blame ITT and the city. Most of the city drawings are old and so inaccurate that all the markings that were painted are about 40% accurate.
Tadpole says
Why so close to a water main is the issue.
5 feet away from the water main seems reasonable to me.
JimboXYZ says
Connecting the dots, yet another of Alfin’s Visions of 2050. I guess the upside is lower prices for internet connectivity. That relative reset was for the growth that was supposed to pay for itself, is going to become at or over capacity when the approvals are built & Flagler County is overpopulated into becoming a school zone for traffic.
https://www.palmcoast.gov/Newsroom/Home/Details?slug=metro-net-to-make-palm-coast-certified-gigabit-city
Laurel says
Forget the plans, they need to refer to the asbuilts. Then, they are supposed to pothole the watermain to verify the waterman’s location. The company is wholly responsible.
Gina says
MetroNet has been the biggest disaster that this city has hired. Who allowed all this digging to put in broadband on homeowners and businesses property. They have been tearing up homeowners properties without our permission or knowledge of why. Now the businesses are suffering. Someone needs to ask this city why are they doing this. Most residents did not even sign up for broadband when they allowed AT&T to dig up on our property. Someone needs to newer for this. This company has been nothing but problems and they have people in charge watching them.
Mital Saraiya says
It’s very hard for small business we have shell gas station on state road 100 and our entrance is closed for last two days because of someone mistake and we can’t even make them responsible. I think city officials should fine them and take actions