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Seven or eight leaks have been discovered in the old lines on Swartz Road in Kingwood.
Workers say the lines being replaced on Swartz Road in Kingwood are from the 1920s and 1930s.
Kingwood Water Works employees are replacing lines on Swartz Road.
Seven or eight leaks have been discovered in the old lines on Swartz Road in Kingwood.
Workers say the lines being replaced on Swartz Road in Kingwood are from the 1920s and 1930s.
Kingwood Water Works employees are replacing lines on Swartz Road.
KINGWOOD — The Kingwood Water Board is facing escalating material costs as it works to replace old, leaking water lines.
Water board workers have been replacing old service lines on Swartz Road, located off W.Va. 26 north. New lines are being laid parallel to the old ones.
Seven or eight leaks have already been found in the old lines on Swartz, Water Board Chairman Bob DeRiggi said at Tuesday’s meeting. Kingwood Chief Water Operator James Marks estimated the work was 70-to-75% complete then.
But while the work will help the utility stop leakage, “our materials are just going crazy,” DeRiggi said. “So, if we’re thinking about doing Court Street, we might want to consider buying in advance, just so we have it.”
The current estimate for new lines for Court is about $11,000.
In April, Marks said the previous estimate for parts to replace aging water lines on Swartz Road was $8,081. That grew to $30,000 by the time materials were bought.
The board voted unanimously to cash in a certificate of deposit that will mature in June or July for $11,070 to buy the materials for the work on Court Street.
The other thing is that as materials are getting limited, DeRiggi said. For example, Marks recently rejected two 20-foot joints of pipe that were damaged.
Kingwood Water Works has about 140 miles of water lines and has been aggressively looking for leaks. Last year, it pumped 21 million gallons of water less than the previous year because of leaks being found and repaired.
A leak discovered on Camp Ground Road recently and repaired accounted for half the water loss in the Howesville end of the system, Marks said. That part of Kingwood Water is part of the former Public Service District 2 system acquired by Kingwood.
The board also voted to buy two line locaters at $941 each, taking the money from American Rescue Plan Act funds.
In other discussions, Water Works Clerk Amy DeBerry said that letters went out to customers, asking them to provide information about the age and type of water pipes in the structures where they receive water. This information is being requested because federal regulations are requiring water systems to monitor and test water for lead and copper.
Kingwood will be testing samples of water for copper and lead between June 1 and Aug. 30 at some homes, based upon the year of construction, type of plumbing installed and the type of service lines. Questions can be directed to amy@kingwoodwv.org or call city hall at 304-329-1225.
There is no cost to customers associated with the survey.
The board was also told that five new water taps are being done on Kimberly Lane, while 13 other new taps are possible in the city system at a planned development, which has not been finalized by the owner.
Board Member and Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief Perry Barlow asked what size the service lines are in the area of the 13 possible taps? They’re four-inch lines, Marks said.
Does the International Building Code adopted by city council specify water line sizes, Barlow wondered.
“It’s actually a pretty good resources, because there’s more to it than what I think they believe they adopted,” Barlow said of city council.
Staff writer Kathy Plum may be reached at 304-290-4805 or at kplum@prestonnj.com.
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