A broken water main in Lower Gibsons in front of the Ritz Hotel was repaired in the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 8.
Water access was cut off to residents and businesses between Glassford Road and Dougall Road for three hours before the main was fixed.
“It was just old infrastructure that let go,” said Town of Gibsons director of public works, Greg Foss. “We went there, dug it up and fixed it. Got it all back on-line within three hours.”
About 30,000 gallons of water was lost in that time due to the extreme pressure in the water mains, about 120 psi (pounds per square inch). About eight times the pressure of our atmosphere.
“Main breaks happen all the time, so it wasn't that big a deal,” said Foss. “The life span depends on what kind of pipe it is and it depends on soil conditions. So it varies, anywhere from 30 years to 50 years.”
No damage was done to any nearby residences or businesses.
