City plans extensive water main repairs after spring thaw

With a state-of-the-art screw press facility costing $1.15 million to treat sewage and a nearly $5 million water-treatment plant that was completed in 1998, Libby officials have turned their attention to two water issues — a new dam a the city’s Flower Lake Reservoir and repairing water leaks in the distribution mains.

“Our No. 1 priority is the dam right now,” Libby City Administrator Jim Hammons said last week in his office.

“We’re going to start going after the leaks in the spring,” Hammons said.

With enabled operations in the beginning process — water treatment — and in the final process — wastewater treatment — the focus must be on it distribution system, Hammons said.

To that end, Hammons and the Water Department are armed with a new report prepared by Utility Service Associates, LLC, of Kalispell.

The nearly 40-page analysis of Libby’s water distribution system was conducted by Utility Service Associates during an 11-day period in August.

Using hearing frequency technology, the extensive report analyzed 395 hydrants, valves and services in Libby’s water-distribution system. In all, the survey reviewed 155,232 linear feet of water mains and valves in Libby or about 29.4 miles of underground supply lines.

The report analysis was clear: The city’s water distribution system is losing about 31 gallons per minute or 44,640 gallons a day, which figures 16.293 million gallons annually.

“We’re losing about 70 percent of the water we produce,” Hammons said, indicating only 30 percent of the treated water from the 13-year-old water treatment plant is being consumed by residents and businesses in town.

The report by Utility Service Associates, which touts its slogan of “You Leak, We Seek” proudly, identified 26 leaks.

The breakdown was 14 water-main leaks, seven hydrants, three valves and two curb stop locations. Curb stops are shut-off valves at key locations to cease water supplies.

According to the report, the largest leak is on Colorado Avenue between the alley and West First Street. That location is losing 150 gallons per minute. The leaks indicating the least water loss were one-quarter gallon per minute were six locations, all of which were valves, hydrants or curb stops.

The report recommended repairing all of the leaks in the mains before moving on to hydrants, valves and curb stops.

“Libby definitely has some water-supply challenges,” said Utility Service Associates Vice President Bruce Rubin. “Certainly, we have cities that are losing more water, but these are much bigger cities, like Sacramento (Calif.). I’d say Libby, for having 29 miles of water main, is on the high side. We estimated the city is losing between 50 to 80 percent of its treated water,” Rubin said.

That loss comes at considerable cost.

“When you consider the wear on machinery, the chemicals and everything involved in this process, it’s a great loss of money,” Rubin said.

While city workers will use the Leak Report as a road map to make repairs in the spring, it will be a process in which crews will be doing some excavating and repairing and in some instances replacing faulty valves.

According to the report, indications of leaks found during the survey were verified a second time, after which, the leaks were pinpointed with a computer-based sound correlator when possible.

“It’s all sound frequency,” Rubin said. “The more high-pitched the sound is the smaller the leak. If we hear a big, low-pitch sound, it’s a larger leak.”

Hammons said the ability to estimate the cost of the repairs is impossible until crews delve into the projects. In some instances where there are valves and curbstops, the cost would be minimal.

Rubin said when word gets out of the effectiveness of his company’s services, cities realize the efficiency of the report. The 40-page Libby report cost the city $11,000, Rubin said.

“It’s a great deal for cities. In Libby’s case, ($11,000) is just the cost of water for a few days,” Rubin said. “Our studies are very economical.”

Hammons also indicated this spring the city has plans to install two pressure-gauge check valves to maintain water pressure throughout town.

Currently, the city just has one pressure valve station. The city’s water-delivery system is gravity-run, meaning since the water treatment plant is located on the hillside by the Cabinet View subdivision, water service is delivered to most of Libby by gravity, which is most efficient.

The downside, Hammons said, is residents closer to the Kootenai River receive water pressure at near ideal rates — 65 to 75 pounds — while water customers farther south in some areas get water pressure closer to 30 or 35 pounds.

“The valves we want to install will help with the water pressure,” Hammons said.

Hammons also said water delivery to Cabinet View requires pumps because it is higher than the Water Treatment Plant.

According to Rubin, despite the leaks are not a serious problem for the city, meaning there is no need for a boil order.

“As long as there is positive pressure in the line that’s not necessary,” Rubin said. “The only time a boil order is called is when the pressure in the becomes negative. Generally, that’s not a problem.”

Asked whether residents would see a decrease in their water bills as the losses — leaks are repaired and the system become more efficient — Hammons said that was unlikely.

“People don’t know what it costs to have this service,” Hammons said. “We got a new (Water Treatment Plant) facility 13 years ago, and now we’re looking at replacing some pumps and generators.”

Hammons led a tour of Libby’s Water Treatment Plant, pointing out generators, chlorinators, clarifiers and filtering systems he said that need constant cleaning, servicing and repairs.

“We’re at the point where many of these items are needing maintenance and replacement,” Hammons said. “It’s a never-ending cycle of maintenance, repair and replacement.”