KINGSTON – Crews continue to brave
the frigid temperatures and repair the large water leak that has all but
crippled the Kingston City water system. Officials hope the work will
be completed by late Friday.
Contract repair company Arold Construction was able to complete the coffer
dam and remove most of the concrete from the 18-inch transmission main,
city water department officials said Friday. There appears to be a five-foot
long crack that runs along the length o the main on its top.
Work will continue on concrete removal and the interior of the main will
be checked by video camera to confirm the full extent of the damage. The
impacted section will be removed and new main will be inserted into the
line, using couplings.
When the concrete was removed, officials said it was determined that the
upstream valve was not holding and was leaking at a rate of about 500,000
gallons per day. Distribution personnel were able to get a complete shutdown
by 5 p.m. Thursday.
That leak caused further decline in the Binnewater Reservoir and the elevation
sensor is out of the water, making it impossible for staff to determine
the level.
Water storage tanks have been filled and the Town of Ulster is supplying
the city with 900,000 gallons per day from the Ulster Water District.
The Town of Ulster has extended its state of emergency because of the
Kingston problem through Monday, February 23.
