Gardendale water line bursts

Source: Odessa American, TexasJuly 24--The residents of Gardendale who do not have water wells on their property were without water for several hours Tuesday.迷你倉Jake Wells, with Greater Gardendale Water Supply Corporation, said their large 10-inch water line ruptured at about 3 a.m. Tuesday, draining the entirety of the water company's elevated supply."This is the main line that connects our ground storage to our elevated storage," Wells said.About 250,000 gallons of water spilled out of the 7-foot crack in the line onto Goldenrod Drive and the adjacent property at Goldenrod Drive and Windswept Avenue, leaving about 750 customer accounts and approximately 2,000 people without water.The line was repaired in the early afternoon and residents were at about full pressure by 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wells said.He also said per guidelines by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the water corporation has issued a boil water notice that residents must boil any water to be consumed during the next 48 hours. The water company also is required to submit water quality tests as soon as possible.Wells said the notice doesn't mean there is any problem with the water, but TCEQ requires the notice when water pressure drops below 20 PSI.The elevated supply in a water tower in the 6600 block of Goldenrod Drive holds a capacity of about 200,000 gallons and was emptied in a matter of hours while also pumping in water from the ground storage and spilling that water as well.Wells said the rupture may not even have been noticeable, and could have been repaired quicker, if a drunken driver did not crash into the hole at the water line rupture.DPS Trooper Melissa Reynoso said there was a wreck near the scene at 5 a.m.Reynoso said 19-year-old Valentin Rocha from Friona was driving westbound on Goldenrod Drive when he lost control.The car hydroplaned because it was going to fast, Reynoso said, an文件倉 it went off the road. Only the car was damaged and no one was hurt.Wells said he was nearly struck by the vehicle before he started flashing his lights, and the vehicle veered into the ditch. He then helped the three people in the vehicle out and waited on officers to arrive at the scene.Reynoso said Rocha was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.Rocha was being held Tuesday at the Ector County Detention Center on $500 bond.Wells said the company outputs about 200,000 to 300,000 gallons of water per day, which it gets from pumping groundwater at a Midland County private property.Although there is some disagreement, Wells said the water either comes from the Ogallala or Edwards-Trinity aquifer.Chris McCullough, a 33-year-old man who lives in Gardendale, said he had water when he returned from a job at about 5 a.m. Tuesday, but the house did not have any water when he woke up around 9:30 a.m."We don't drink it, but as far as showers and stuff like that (we can use it)," McCullough said about how it would affect him.He said his sister has a water well at her house, and he will go there until the water is back to working.Wells was working on the water line with an employee, a volunteer and a board member, he said, but Berry Petroleum also helped with the repair.The oilfield company, which has been sued by some Gardendale residents alleging questionable practices, brought trucks to remove water and mud and also brought topsoil to help replace the broken line.Wells said it's common practice for Berry Petroleum to offer manpower, supplies and money to help with anything the water company needs.?Contact Jon Vanderlaan on twitter at @OAcourts, on Facebook at OA Jon Vanderlaan or call 432-333-7763.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at www.oaoa.com Distributed by MCT Information Services存倉