PORT ANGELES — City water continued to be stained brown Thursday after two water main breaks this week.
Craig Fulton, director of the Port Angeles Public Works Department, said it should clear up quickly.
The week’s first break was Monday in a city 8-inch cast-iron water line installed in 1955 near West 11th and South Cedar streets.
The second was Wednesday in similarly aged water line at Cedar and Marine streets, Fulton said.
The 10-inch Port of Port Angeles water main was repaired the same day with the assistance of city crews, he said.
The West 11th water main break was repaired Thursday and the water was being tested, Fulton said.
If the water is safe, the line will be put back into service today, he said.
Discolored water
Businesses and residents in the downtown area reported discolored water starting earlier this week, which Fulton said was caused by sediment or minerals in the pipes being stirred up by the break.
“We have flushed the main line,” he said.
Fulton said residents and businesses in the downtown area should open taps to flush the remaining discolored water.
Monday’s break was located at the top of the Tumwater Valley ravine. The water main is a line that dips down into the Tumwater Valley and under Tumwater Creek, Fulton said.
Rushing water washed out a large portion of the hillside and excavated about 70 feet of the water main.
Nearby is a redundant water main used to distribute water to about 300 customers in the Pine Hill area.
The two aging lines are critical to maintain water quality and distribution redundancy, city documents said.
The City Council declared an emergency Tuesday to get the repair completed quickly.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
