Water was shut off for several hours on April 4 as Lake City’s Line Maintenance Crew removed a defective hydrant and replaced it with a new one that includes a water cut-off valve. The replacement also required a temporary boil advisory affecting E. Claff Circle, E. Village Road, London Avenue, Graham Road, Palm Circle, Maple Drive, and Peter Street after the replacement on Palm Circle was completed.
“The valve means we don’t have to shut off water to the neighborhood should the hydrant need maintenance in the future,” said Sterling Mallette, crew chief of the team responsible for the upkeep and replacement of the city’s water and sewer lines.
The old hydrant was marked for replacement during recent flow-testing and inspections. It was originally installed in 1969 and failed the flow-test.
“Something broke in the hydrant and it isn’t repairable, so we are replacing it,” said Mallette.
The cost of replacing a fire hydrant runs $3,500 - $4,500 plus labor, according to Ricky Sims, Public Works and Utilities Services Director, and is paid for using funds from the water operating budget which plans for the replacement of two-to-three hydrants each year.
Inspections are completed on every city hydrant annually, and the flow testing, which examines the rate of water flowing when the hydrant is open, is performed every three years, explained Lake City Fire Chief Randy Driggers.
Additional hydrants are scheduled for replacement in the coming months and water shut-off and boil advisory notices will be published on the city’s website and Facebook page in advance. 