City makes significant progress after coordinated effort on water tie-ins

City administrators apologized to customers for the inconvenience of reduced water service on Dec. 7, and praised the coordinated efforts to complete several water tie-ins on major service lines.

Crews completed tie-ins on a line of 30, 18, and 16 inches in diameter to make significant progress on DWSRF projects in the areas of Talawanda Avenue, Ashland Avenue and Adams Street. 

"Thanks to the hard work and combined efforts of city crews and the contractors, we were able to get these tie-ins done quickly," City Manager Dave Andren said. 

"It was a big day for the City of McAlester and I'm very proud of everybody that was involved," City of McAlester Utilities Department Director Nick Manning said. "It was a great team effort between the city, engineers, contractors, and everyone involved."

A water tie-in is a connection between a new main line and an existing main line. The large lines serve as a main artery to provide water throughout the city's system, so the number of tie-ins on the large lines required shutting down the water plant for optimal safety precautions at the work sites. 

Manning and engineers coordinated with city crews and contractors to ensure tie-ins could take place within 24-36 hours to minimize the disturbance in service while following Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality regulations on maintaining pressure throughout the system.

Crews waited until 9 a.m. to shut down the plant to reduce disturbances in the morning and restored water throughout the system around 5:30 p.m. to start replenishing the system before dinner time. While the plant was shut down, the city's clearwells ensured the entire system never dropped below the minimum 25 psi required by DEQ.

The City of McAlester apologizes for the inconvenience in the disturbance of service and appreciates customers for understanding as work continues to improve water services.