MLGW water crews “fish” for mains

 MLGW water crews “fish” for mains

 

Finding a water main is almost like searching for Waldo in a “Where’s Waldo” book. Last Saturday, a water crew hunted for one several hours in the middle of Chelsea Street in North Memphis. The main was buried four to six feet underground. 

Because of the severe weather recently, MLGW’s water crews work around the clock finding and repairing dozens of water main breaks. The breaks, high consumption and low water pressure forced MLGW to issue a boil water advisory. It was the first one in decades.

The hardest part is finding the water main itself. Until they can pinpoint the main’s exact location, they can’t begin to listen to the sounds of water rushing out of the main from a leak. “We’re fishing for a water main,” Water Crew Leader Devon Hamilton. said. “Once you hear the loudest sound, it will tell you where the break is.” He’s listening for the sound of a faucet running at full stream.

After clearing snow from the street, the crew uses a pipe and cable locator red box to determine where to pop holes in the pavement with a drill.

With the holes drilled, a worker pushes in a six-foot rod hoping he hits the main. After a worker finds the water main, Hamilton hunkers down with an ear phone listening intently for the loudest sound of flowing water. His crew stands by patiently. “Can you hear it?” they ask. Finally, he pinpoints the location.  

Once the hole in the main is uncovered, workers install band clamps that act like liquid glue in stopping the leak. Before leaving for their next assignment, they wait for the operator to return to fill the hole. It’s all in a day’s (or night’s) work for our MLGW water crews.