Water Main Hit Twice Along Highway 7 S. in Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi – Residents living along Highway 7 South have been facing repeated water outages after a contractor accidentally damaged a water main earlier this week. This incident marks the second time in just two weeks that a water main was hit in the same area, leading to temporary water loss for many locals.
The contractor involved in this latest incident, TL Wallace, was working to relocate gas lines under a permit granted by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) when the water main break occurred on Tuesday. According to Rob Neely, the General Manager of Oxford Utilities, the water service was interrupted for approximately two hours.
Previous Incident Raises Concerns
This recent hit is particularly concerning as it follows another damaging incident on August 1, where the same contractor struck a water line in the same location. Neely pointed out that the team of contractors is required to be cautious and to identify utility lines that may be crossed during their work. “In both instances, the location of the lines was marked accurately by Oxford Utilities,” he said.
During this latest incident, it was revealed that an older, 8-inch water line—approximately fifty years old—was located near a newer main. Unfortunately, the contractor mistakenly identified the older line at a shallower depth. As a result, while working under the older line, the contractor inadvertently hit the deeper, newer main, which led to the water break.
Impacted Areas and Restoration Efforts
The recent water outage affected residents from the NMRC area to the intersection of South Lamar Boulevard and Highway 7, including neighborhoods such as the Windsor Falls Subdivision. Thankfully, Oxford Utilities employees promptly responded and worked diligently to restore service, managing to fix the problem and get water flowing again in about two hours. According to Neely, their work extended until about 3 a.m. to ensure that residents had their service restored as quickly as possible.
Frequent Damage Raises Alarm
Neely expressed worries about the frequency of utility line damage and how it affects local customers. “When contractors hit utility lines and are found liable for the damages, we compile invoices and bill them for the repairs,” he mentioned. There is an urgent call for improved caution from contractors in the city, as well as from MDOT, as they work around critical city infrastructures.
In light of these two incidents, the utilities department is actively voicing its concerns to both the contractor and MDOT, emphasizing the need for greater attention to detail during such operations. The goal is to minimize the chances of future accidents that disrupt service to residents in the area.
Conclusion
As residents grapple with the aftermath of these incidents, local officials are working hard to address the underlying issues and ensure that such occurrences are reduced in the future. The residents of Highway 7 South deserve reliable water service, and the hope is that the recent hit will serve as a catalyst for better practices and operations moving forward.
