WHITE OAK, Texas (KLTV) - A horizontal boring incident caused a water main rupture in the city of White Oak.
City Coordinator Jimmy Purcell initially said water would not be restored to full pressure until Saturday, but the city sent a text at 5:23 p.m. saying that the water main break had been repaired already.
Water pressure, however, will still be low for some time, and there will be air in the line as well as sediment that will discolor the water.
Purcell said the outage was caused when a fiber optic company drilled into a water main using a horizontal bore. Jeff Williford with TxDOT confirmed that, saying a utility contractor ruptured a 12-inch waterline while boring across the road. The line runs under the northbound sidewalk. The rupture caused damage to the northbound outside lane.
The resulting low pressure is expected to shut down restaurants and other businesses that rely on water service as of Thursday.
El Rincon on Highway 80, for example, had to close. Just down the street, Sam Hasam, owner of Moe’s Pizza, was able to keep his restaurant open.
“We’re using to-go cups, and we got the ice from Brookshire’s, and we just have to do what we have to do,” Hasam said.
They can’t use the ice machine but have canned and bottled drinks.
At the site of the water line break, White Oak was getting help.
“We got Clarksville, Warren City that are lending a hand. I did get a phone call from the city manager for Longview, who said they’d be willing to send equipment if needed,” Purcell said.
SWEPCO was on scene, bracing a power pole that may have been compromised when water swept under the road. A TxDOT crew was also standing by.
“A lot of water was coming out of that leak. It went from one side to the other. It eroded underneath the road, causing it to buckle,” Purcell said.
He said after the line is fixed and power pole secured, TxDOT will assess the road for repairs. Traffic was down to two lanes while they worked on the line. Back at Moe’s, Sam and his crew had adapted and hope to remain open.
“You’re fighting back,” I said to Sam.
“We have to. We are East Texans. We always come out on top,” Hasam said.
Once pressure is restored, the city will submit test samples to TCEQ for approval.
On Friday, the City of White Oak announced citizens could come to the fire station off White Oak Road to pick up a case of bottled water. This is only while supplies last.
If you have questions, contact Beaux Huey, water superintendent, at (903) 759-3936 or Jimmy Purcell at the same number.