The City of Oak Harbor Public Works Water Division worked overnight to complete repairs to a broken water main in the southern portion of the roundabout on Highway 20 after Miller Road and Gibralter Road, according to a press release.

The Public Works Water Division was notified at 6:45 p.m. on May 4 about a broken water line. Upon inspection of the issue, it was determined that the end piece of the water joint on the underground pipe broke apart. The Water Division worked with City of Anacortes staff overnight to repair the damage, including, draining the 24-inch pipe, excavating down 10 feet and shoring the area to provide temporary support for the trench.

The break was identified at 3 a.m. on May 5, allowing crews to make the necessary repairs. The cities worked together by running two Vactor trucks, one from each city, to clear water and debris from the work area, and crews were sent home around 1:30 p.m. on May 5 after working almost 19 hours to repair the lines.

Mayor Bob Severns was impressed.

“The Public Works Department are heroes for making sure that we continue to receive drinking water in our community,” he said. “I appreciate the work of the Water Division and want to thank them for staying overnight and finding fast solutions to fix the pipe. It is wonderful that we have such dedicated staff, as well as great partners like the City of Anacortes when situations like this occur.”

The Public Works Department is working on long-term solutions to find out what happened to cause the broken pipe and how to potentially prevent occurrences in the future.

“This issue reminds all of us of the importance of drinking water and it is fitting that the broken pipe happened during Drinking Water Week,” the press release states.

“This week is dedicated to recognizing the vital role that tap water plays in our daily lives and the infrastructure that is required to carry it to and from homes and businesses, as well as the critical work that water professionals accomplish around the clock to ensure the delivery of quality tap water to the community.”

Learn more about the Public Works Water Division on the city’s website.