Not a Drop to Drink
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
Circle 7 water repairs reveal more problems
Repairs on Circle 7 water lines have revealed more problems than expected, in one case water leaks had to be repaired before repairs could be made.
Water lines that were replaced about 15 years ago may have met code back then, but the piping materials, how they were installed, and where they were installed don’t match current standards, which is why frequent problems occur today. Many of the materials are from original construction in the late 1970s—50 years ago.
Aged and brittle piping, multiple improper pipe junctions, and mismatched piping materials reveal why Los Lagos Vistas is seeing frequent water leaks, especially in Circle 7. The system also may have worn water valves that can’t be closed totally.
Circle 7 may be experiencing more problems because of gravity pressure on lower elevation circles. Unfortunately, conditions revealed in Circle 7 may indicate similar circumstances in other circles.
With its recently installed water meter, Lake Havasu City has reported Los Lagos Vistas water leakage may be as much as 2,400 gallons per hour. Recent work by the community’s Maintenance Team reduced water flow by about 100 gallons per hour, but much more water is going “somewhere.”
The City is aware of the LLV situation and is ready to assign people to help. The HOA also is considering hiring a local company who might be able to pinpoint leaks in the entire system.
Completion of work in Circle 7 depends on what the contractor discovers going forward, but it may take at least a week. That means ongoing water shutoffs for Circle 7 residents.
Because there are no definitive maps of the water lines, the contractor and the LLV Maintenance Team dig exploratory postholes to find the lines, then trench from there. Work depends on what materials are found and what damage is discovered.
The contractor, Lindsay Excavation, will replace lines with modern materials, such as blue high-density polyethylene lines and corrosion-resistant saddles. Saddles clamp onto existing lines to create branch connections without cutting main lines, ensuring reliable connections under water pressure.
The project also will include higher-rated valves as needed to handle incoming water pressures.
The project will replace all service lines from the main incoming line directly to the building it services. Main lines will also be assessed for viability.
