YAKIMA, Wash. – Repairs on a water main break in downtown Yakima have been paused for the day but are set to finish on Monday. The water main broke late Thursday night, causing flooding on Yakima Avenue from Second Street to Third Street.
Crews started working on the repairs around midnight. The break impacted the city’s domestic water system.
Mike Shane, Water and Irrigation Manager for the City of Yakima, explained the age of the infrastructure.
“Many of the water mains are 75, 80 years old, maybe older,” Shane said.
Shane noted that such incidents are common due to the city’s aging infrastructure.
“The aging infrastructure, these are the types of things that can occur. Sometimes there’s no rhyme or reason to when and why they occur, but they do with this older infrastructure,” he said. “They’re just finishing up the repairs to the main right now. The water main is back on. We’re filling it slowly. And that’s what’s happening with the hydrant down at Third Street is they’re getting the air out of the line and getting the line filled back up,” Shane said.
Each year, Shane’s department invests in updating the water lines.
“We spend upwards of $3 million a year on water line replacements and upgrades throughout the city,” Shane said. “There’s no way to replace every water line throughout the city within a short period of time.”
Shane expressed gratitude for the hard work of his crew.
“I can’t say enough good about all of our workers that for our division and throughout the city that deal with this to serve the public, keep the public in clean domestic water,” Shane said. “They’re taken away from their families and on a holiday weekend. So I just can’t say enough good about that.”
Wheatland Bank was the only customer affected by the water main break. Shane stated that the bank would have temporary water service by the end of the repairs, and service lines would be fully repaired on Monday.
