BATTLE MOUNTAIN - Lander County Commission Chair Dean Bullock told Public Works Foreman Jake Edgar at the July 26 commission meeting that he was receiving complaints about low water pressure from Battle Mountain residents since the new arsenic mitigation system went into effect.
Edgar said that he could increase the pressure but that he was worried about old pipes bursting throughout town. He agreed to increase the water pressure slowly to see what the pipes can handle.
After the meeting he said he has been increasing the pressure by one to two PSI (pounds per square inch) each week since the July 26 commission meeting and will continue to increase it until it maxes out at around 58 to 60 PSI. While the pressure-reducing valve is being opened up, Edgar will be monitoring for problems around town, he said.
Before the new arsenic mitigation system went into effect last year, water customers were receiving 48 PSI of pressure. Edgar said the system is currently set at 52 PSI but he said some customers are only receiving 48 PSI of pressure because the tanks are located farther away from town.
Edgar is hoping all of the pipes in town will be upgraded by the time the PSI is maxed out. He said a lot of the pipes were replaced from 2002 to 2006 but many of the alleyways still need new piping.
In 2012, Edgar is planning to have the piping replaced in the alleyways between Fourth and Fifth streets and between Sixth and Seventh streets.
In 2013, he is hoping to have the pipes replaced in portions of the alleyway between Second Street and Front Street.
When the system first came on July 7, 2011, the pressure reducing valve got stuck open and there were quite few leaks throughout town, said Edgar. It was shut down briefly for a few glitches and then shut off again for a dedicated draw line to be installed. It came back on permanently Sept. 8, 2011.
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