The City of Pauls Valley issued a statement Wednesday providing an update to residents regarding recent events with the city’s water infrastructure, including circumstances leading to a precautionary boil advisory put in place for an approximately 48-hour period last week.
The statement, issued by Pauls Valley City Manager Joe Livingston, included the following:
The City of Pauls Valley would like to provide an update regarding recent water system issues experienced by some residents. Most of our water infrastructure, including water lines, is aging and beginning to experience failures.
Much of this infrastructure was installed decades ago, and like many communities across the country, Pauls Valley is now facing the challenge of maintaining and upgrading systems that have reached the end of their original service life. As these issues occur, our crew is working as quickly as possible to locate the problems and complete repairs in order to restore normal service.
Last week, the city experienced several water leaks near the airport. During that same time, a utility contractor accidentally struck a water line in the Tanglewood area. This caused a cascading effect on the system that temporarily lowered water levels in the towers and resulted in reduced water pressure for some residents. The City replaced several sections of pipe to repair the damaged line and exposed portions of the system. As a safety precaution, the city also issued a boil water advisory.
Current repairs near the airport
The city is currently aware of another water leak near the airport. Unfortunately, a series of leaks has occurred this week in the same general area. City crews worked through the night and during the storm [Tuesday] to repair the issue and stabilize the system to help prevent a repeat of the problems experienced last week. Repairs are ongoing. Crews are currently waiting for additional parts and getting some rest after working overnight before returning to continue repairs and fully resolve the issue.
City leadership would also like to recognize the dedication of our utility crews who responded immediately and worked through severe weather conditions overnight to address these issues. Their commitment to keeping water service operating for our community, often under difficult conditions and long hours, is greatly appreciated.
We also want to address questions we have received regarding the $12,000,000 loan approved for improvements to the City’s water treatment plant. These funds are dedicated specifically to upgrading and modernizing the treatment plant so the city can continue to provide safe and reliable drinking water for the community. Because of how the funding was issued, the money is restricted for plant improvements and cannot legally be used to repair or replace water lines throughout the city.
The project is being financed through the water system and supported by a $20 adjustment to the base water bill, which helps secure the funding needed to complete these critical upgrades and protect the long-term reliability of Pauls Valley’s water system. These improvements are essential to ensuring the city can continue to meet state and federal water quality standards while providing safe, reliable drinking water for our residents now and in the future.
City staff continues to monitor the water system closely and will respond to issues as quickly as possible. Replacing an entire water distribution system takes many years and significant investment, and the city continues to address repairs and improvements as funding and projects allow.
If residents notice unusual water issues or leaks, please report them to the City using the City app so crews can respond promptly. The official “City of Pauls Valley” app, which features city news, alerts, and a directory, is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
We appreciate the patience and support of our residents as our crews continue working to maintain and improve the city’s water system for the entire Pauls Valley community.