Faulty Parts Likely to Delay Street Projects

Three newly installed "saddle taps" have had to be replaced over the last week, leading city staff to believe that all the newly installed taps may fail at some point.

Examination of the three removed saddle taps indicated that the wrong model of tap may have been installed, resulting in the tap fracturing the new water pipe. Staff has determined that the issue must be fixed before proceeding with any final paving on this year's street projects.

Water mains are generally replaced in streets scheduled for paving the same year. Staff has decided that the wisest solution to this problem is to go back and remove the incorrect taps and replace them with the proper parts which are now in hand, before the streets receive their final coat of asphalt.

A total of 134 taps (including the three already replaced) will have to be changed out, and this work is planned to start Wednesday morning, July 24.

City crews are coordinating with the paving contractors to minimize the impact to their work, but delays will surely occur. Because some streets have already had the bottom layer of asphalt laid down, some excavation of this new pavement will be required, but streets will not receive their final top layer of pavement until the water tap work is done.

This will also mean re-excavating in some areas that have already been dug up in the spring, and the city apologizes for the inconvenience this will cause some residents. In this case, however, the excavation will involve only a small section approximately five feet by five feet for each tap, and not uncovering the entire pipeline on whole blocks.

Crews may work weekends to get this project completed as quickly as possible. As always, residents will be informed in advance of any disruption to their water service.

The affected streets include:

• Dexter Drive
• Ram Avenue
• 400-600 blocks of Cheyenne Street
• 900 block of Delores Avenue
• 200-300 blocks of Prospect Street
• 200-300 blocks of Walnut Street
• 700-800 blocks of Karen Street.

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