WPCNR UNDERGROUND NEWS. By John F. Bailey. October 30, 2006: Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti said today that the water main break at Paulding Street adjacent The Westchester that occurred Saturday morning at 8:30 was repaired by 6:30 P.M. Saturday night by replacing a 10 foot length of pipe where a longitudinal crack was discovered. Another leak father down in the pipe discovered when the hole was being backfilled will be repaired with no interruption in service.
Nicoletti said the cracked main (which supplies all water to Crowne Plaza and The Westchester) was an 8 inch cast iron main that Nicoletti said apparent ruptured due to the wet ground underneath the pipe losing its ability to support the pipe causing a 3-foot long crack.
Nicoletti said the DPW had to shut off water for a short period of time to the Crowne Plaza Hotel while they rigged a by pass to continue to supply water to the hotel, opting to shut off flow to The Westchester. The Westchester was without water meaning no restrooms were available for public use and restaurant service had to be shut downfor the entire Saturday business hours. The Westchester has not returned WPCNR calls for comment.
The remain crack in the Paulding Street pipe Nicoletti said is circumferential and that is being repaired without having to shut down water pressure. The Commissioner said the Paulding Street line will be replaced when it can be worked into the infrastructure maintenance schedule.
The Commissioner said the water main will be replaced with a pipe material called Ductiliron that Nicoletti said was more flexible and not subject to cracking. Asked how much of the old cast iron mains the city has beneath its streets, Nicoletti said “miles and miles,” and that it was subject to cracking because some of it is 100 years old or more.
