SAN ANTONIO – Twice in two days, two construction crews broke two different water lines on the city’s far Northwest Side.
The first break happened Monday at Culebra Road and Loop 1604 after a subcontractor working for the Northside Independent School District hit a 36-inch water line, SAWS officials said. The pipe has since been fixed.
Viewer Video: Water main break causes problems on NW Side
On Tuesday, a subcontractor working with the Texas Department of Transportation pierced a 48-inch waterline less than a mile away at Loop 1604 and Alamo Ranch Parkway.
“That’s one of our major arteries for water going to the Northwest Side, and it created a real problem for us,” SAWS communications manager Anne Hayden said.
Many customers reported experiencing low water pressure as a result of the breaks.
Repairs are ongoing at Alamo Ranch Parkway, and drivers will surely notice. One lane of traffic eastbound along the parkway had to be shut down for the work to be done.
Hayden attributed the inconveniences to the fast flow of growth in the area, and the utility is trying to keep up.
She said subcontractors are responsible for contacting SAWS to find out where water lines are located.
“It's a real dance to be able to coordinate growth, maintenance, as well as maintain supply to all our customers out here,” Hayden said.
SAWS budgets for water main breaks, so the cost of the loss won't show up on customers' bill.
“You won’t see that in a thousandth of a cent in any future rates," Hayden said. “Plus, rates are set for the next two years.”
The cost of repairing the waterline is billed to the subcontractor.
It may, however, cost customers a few days of watering.
As the pipeline is fixed at Alamo Ranch Parkway, SAWS is asking customers located within the area of the Northwest Side to hold off on watering until Saturday. (View map of area below)
"So if they could help us through the next few days, we'd really appreciate it,” Hayden said.