News Summary
Columbia residents are facing significant disruptions due to multiple water main breaks affecting neighborhoods. The Columbia Water Department is actively working to repair leaks, restore services, and address concerns over boil water advisories. Ongoing traffic restrictions and past incidents contribute to the challenges faced by residents as they seek clear communication on repairs and water quality. Awareness and patience are essential while the city navigates these service interruptions.
Columbia Faces Water Main Woes: What Residents Need to Know
The city of Columbia is currently dealing with some unexpected water main break challenges, resulting in disruptions that are affecting various neighborhoods. The Columbia Water Department is hard at work repairing leaking pipes to restore normalcy to water service across the city.
Updates on Repairs
Repairs were recently completed in the 6300 block of Garners Ferry Road, where water service has been successfully restored. However, that’s not the end of the story! Traffic on Garners Ferry Road is still feeling the effects of the incident. Inbound traffic has been reduced to one lane, while outbound traffic is restricted to just two lanes. It looks like these traffic restrictions could linger into the following week, so drivers are advised to plan ahead.
Meanwhile, a separate water main break has popped up in the 4300 block of Broad River Road. This eight-inch rupture has temporarily impacted local homes and businesses, sparking a boil water advisory for the area around Geology Road. It’s important to note that the boil water advisory’s connection to the Broad River Road incident remains unconfirmed. In any case, if residents notice discolored water coming from their taps, they are encouraged to reach out to Columbia Water Customer Service for help.
Recent Breaks and Neighborhood Concerns
This isn’t the first time water main issues have interrupted services in Columbia. On January 24, a 6-inch water main break already disrupted water service on Sparkman Drive between N Shorecrest Road and Harlem Street. Residents have also reported discolored water following a larger 16-inch break in the historic Earlewood neighborhood earlier this month on January 14. Although concerns arose on whether a boil water advisory should have been issued for Earlewood, Columbia Water clarified that the integrity of the water system remained intact during that incident.
Residents reported around 40 complaints of discolored water in Earlewood and nearby Hyatt Park, primarily due to a phenomenon known as tuberculation. This is a fancy term for iron corrosion and sediment buildup found in older piping systems. As a result, Columbia Water is actively working on refining its communication protocols to better inform residents about service disruptions through notifications via Nixle and social media platforms.
Under Construction: Lumos’ Fiber-Optic Project Causes Chaos
Adding to the complications, an internet company called Lumos has accidentally caused multiple water main breaks while laying down new fiber-optic cables. Their work has led to flooding and property damage, raising significant concerns among residents. Of the five water main breaks initiated by Lumos, three were linked to improperly marked utility lines. This previous work from Lumos had caused other issues, including gas leaks, prompting local authorities to issue a stop work order last fall.
Recent experiences in the Springhurst neighborhood have raised eyebrows, especially after a sinkhole appeared in a resident’s driveway due to Lumos’ installation work. In response to the disruption, Lumos has announced plans to invest an impressive $100 million in expanding fiber-optic cable access in Columbia. Unfortunately, around 8,000 homes are currently affected, and work is expected to shift toward the Dentsville and Greenview areas shortly.
Staying Informed
For residents looking to stay updated about water service issues, it’s essential to keep an eye out for notifications from Columbia Water. The city is committed to improving their outreach to residents during such disruptions and hopes that better communication will help everyone maneuver these pesky water main break challenges.
As Columbia soldiers through this difficult patch, residents are encouraged to remain patient and to reach out for assistance if they’re affected by the service disruptions. Keeping the lines of communication open is key to ensuring everyone stays informed and safe while these repairs are ongoing!
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Additional Resources
- WLTX: Water main breaks close portion of Garners Ferry Road
- Wikipedia: Water main
- ABC Columbia: Water service in Sparkman Drive area temporarily interrupted
- Google Search: Water main breaks Columbia
- WISTV: Columbia Water change its communication policies
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Water supply
- KOMU: Boil advisory issued after water main break in Columbia
- Google News: Water main break Columbia
