After completing a preliminary assessment of a leaking water line on Wednesday, Nov. 14, Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA) said the line would be out of service for repairs for at least the next 48 hours. GCWA will provide an update on Thursday after further examination of the 42-inch line.
Since taking the line out of service early Wednesday, GCWA is using alternate water lines to supply Galveston Island. Additionally, the communities of Tiki Island, Bayou Vista, Hitchcock and Santa Fe, as well as portions of La Marque and Dickinson, are using their groundwater wells. GCWA continues to update and coordinate with water service providers in those communities.
Because the amount of water GCWA and the communities on ground water can deliver to these communities may be limited, GCWA is asking citizens in affected communities to be conscious of their water use until the line is back in service. The goal is to provide an uninterrupted supply of water during the repair period.
The line is buried in a low-lying area under tidal water just off the shoulder of the I-45 feeder road. To safely and effectively access the damaged section, the contractor built a cofferdam to isolate the pipe from tidal water. The water covering the water line is being pumped out and dirt around the pipe is being removed to fully expose the pipe for assessment and repairs.
Follow GCWA on Facebook and Twitter for updates.