Water main breaks hit Fairhope

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FAIRHOPE – Old infrastructure and new development are two reasons for a series of water main breaks that have left many Fairhope area residents without water in recent weeks, said Jason Langley, city water and sewer director.
Langley said crews have been working constantly to repair the breaks.
"The last two or three weeks, three weeks really we have been bombarded with water main breaks," Langley told City Council members Monday, Dec. 13.
"Our guys, I think for five days our crews might have gotten 10 hours sleep in a five-day period," Langley said. "They're dedicated and they got the water back on as quick as they could."
At 10 p.m. Monday, about four hours after Langley addressed the council, crews were called out for another water main break that cut service to homes and businesses on Greeno Road between Baldwin County 32 and Baldwin County 34.

Crews worked 13 hours to restore service, according to city reports.
Langley said some failures are due to old equipment failing.
"On Scenic 98, County Road 1, those stand out," he said. "Those were saddles that failed that were put in years ago and the salt water and the corrosion corroded the bolts that hold the band and they got to leaking and we have to shut the water off to replace it. The material we're putting in today is stainless, either epoxy-coated or nylon-coated, to withstand that type of corrosion."
In other cases, construction crews working on development projects or public workers have cut lines.
"I think three of the breaks were contractor related. Two of them were county related for cleaning out ditches," he said.
Hunter Simmons, city planning director, said crews working for developers have caused water main breaks, which takes Fairhope employees away from other duties.
"That takes a toll on our staff because as they're going out and installing, there's accidents," Simmons said. "They're accidentally hitting water lines, so where our utilities are out there making repairs every day when they could be making improvements."
City Council President Jimmy Conyers said repair crews are facing a difficult task.
"We appreciate you guys doing that," he told Langley. "I know that's not easy."