Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
UPDATE: Draper City says water service has been restored to all its residents and businesses. City officials say the water could be brown and murky when it is first turned on. They say residents should simply run the water until it becomes clear before they use it.
Previous story:DRAPER -- A break in a water main left hundreds of residents and dozens of businesses in Draper without water service Monday morning.
Nearly 600 residents in Draper woke up with no water. Draper resident Ryan Ogden said, "Can't brush your teeth, can't shower, can't flush the toilet, we're stuck."
Steve Beach, also a Draper resident, said, "We can't even go up to our friend's house up the street. They're out too."
Ogden and Beach have good attitudes about the recent lack of water, but that's because they know Draper City crews are working to repair a water main that broke in two places around 4:30 Monday morning.
The first break was at 11400 South State Street, where a water pressure valve split. That then sent water rushing through the pipe to 11800 South, where the pressure caused another break in the pipe about 5 inches wide.
Draper City spokesperson Maridene Hancock explained, "There was a sinkhole that it caused here at 118th South. It was about 5 feet wide and 6 feet deep."
By 5:30, crews had shut off the water and began digging up the pipe.
For nearby business John Deer Landscapes, it was about the same time it needed to start watering its plants. Alan Shingleton, with John Deer Landscapes, said, "It is a concern for sure when we come back into work and the water is off."
Shingleton says the company has over $900,000 worth of plants, trees, and other landscape that needs to be watered on a rotating basis. He says they should all be OK for now, as long as the water comes back on soon.
He said, "We do have a green house that the water comes from a different area, so hopefully we can use that; if not, we've just got to watch them really close and give them extra water when the water turns back on."
So far, Draper City has been able to restore water to the majority of residents living on the east side of State Street between 11400 South and 11800 South. But until the line is completely repaired, businesses on the west side of the street will continue to work without.
The city is updating the situation on its website at www.draper.ut.us.
------
Story compiled with contributions from Shara Park and Randall Jeppesen.
