5:10 p.m., Mar. 7, 2023 – FINAL UPDATE
Water service has been fully restored.
Crews will complete backfill and cleanup operations on Wednesday, Mar. 8.
3:15 p.m., Mar. 6, 2023
Temporary water service outage from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mar. 7.
District staff completed excavation and prep work today to be able to replace a section of water main tomorrow, Mar. 7. This work will replace the Mar. 3 temporary fix of the water main.
Staff notified affected properties in-person and/or with door hangers earlier today. The planned outage will begin no earlier than 8 a.m. and should be complete by 5 p.m. Crews will remain onsite until water service is fully restored.
To prepare for a temporary water service outage, fill a bathtub or large bucket with water for hand washing and toilet flushing, and fill several pitchers for drinking or cooking needs. To flush a toilet during a water outage, pour a bucket of water into the bowl all at once. Learn how by watching a short video at https://youtu.be/Grnk9p9P7Qk.
Once the repair is complete, crews will reopen valves on the water main to restore water service. Properties may temporarily experience low water pressure until water lines refill. A temporary outage normally entraps some air in the water distribution system, which can cause water to have a cloudy appearance. It also stirs up sediment in water mains that may briefly cause discolored water. The water is safe to drink. To clear your pipes of entrapped air and discoloration, run cold water faucets that do not have a screen, such as those in tubs or an outside spigot. Flush your lines until the water runs clear.
If you have questions, contact Customer Service at 970-477-5451 during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday).
A deep and difficult excavation
1:50 p.m. Mar. 3, 2023
Water service has been restored to all buildings.
The excavated area remains to allow staff to fully assess the area on Monday (Mar. 6) and develop a long-term restoration plan, which will be completed on Mar. 7 or 8. Customers will be notifed of the planned temporary outage. Please see below for how to prepare.
The break in the 6" water main
12:30 p.m., Mar. 3, 2023
Contractors and staff have located the leak and the repair is underway to restore water service by late this afternoon.
This repair is a temporary fix. A full repair will be completed next week, likely on Mar. 7 or 8.
8:15 a.m., Mar. 3, 2023
Contractors and staff are onsite and have resumed excavation work.
5:15 p.m., Mar. 2, 2023
Water service remains off and work will continue through Friday.
An expanded excavation area required new locates to ensure safe digging. Locates were completed midday and contractors began additional excavation to expose the break location. Crews will work into the evening and return at 7:30 a.m. Excavation will resume at 8 a.m. and work will continue all day Friday, Mar. 3, 2023.
Showers and potable water remain available at the Vail Racquet Club from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. VRC staff will note the name and property address of those who request access to facilities.
Thank you to affected residents and guests for your understanding during a difficult emergency response.
12:00 p.m., Mar. 2, 2023
The Vail Racquet Club is providing faucet use for residents to access water. Bring your refillable containers, buckets, and jugs to the Club to fill and bring home. Water from a bucket or jug can be used for hand washing, toilet flushing or for drinking and cooking needs.
To flush a toilet during a water outage, pour a bucket of water into the toilet bowl all at once (learn how by watching this short video) or fill the tank for regular flushing.
8:00 a.m., Mar. 2, 2023 Contractors and staff are onsite prepping equipment for continued excavation. Thank you to the town of Vail for plowing and graveling nearby roads during the challenging winter weather conditions. This has helped keep the area clear and accessible for crews to continue a deep excavation in a tight worksite. Work will continue through today and Friday.
5:00 p.m. Mar. 1, 2023
Water service remains off and repair work is likely to continue through Friday.
District staff have prepped the site and will return at 7:30 a.m., Mar. 2, to continue excavation. Additional equipment will be onsite on Thursday to continue working a complex repair.
3:30 p.m. Mar. 1, 2023
Staff have located the water main at 13 feet deep but have not yet exposed the leak in the pipe. A larger excavation is needed that requires additional equipment, which will be onsite on Mar. 2.
Crews have prepped the site for the more complicated dig. This will extend the duration of the water service outage to Friday, Mar. 3, at the earliest.
Shower facilities remain available for residents and guests at the Vail Racquet Club which is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Please be prepared to give your name and property address to use the facilities.
11:30 a.m., Mar. 1, 2023
District staff continue to work on the excavation. Bottled water has again been delivered to affected properties and is available at the worksite with staff.
8:30 a.m., Mar. 1, 2023
Staff are onsite and have resumed excavation work.
5:15 p.m., Feb. 28, 2023
District staff began excavating this afternoon once mechanical crews protected nearby infrastructure. Excavation is currently at 11 feet deep, and the water main is 13 feet deep. Staff will work into the evening but will not remain overnight due to winter weather conditions and health and safety concerns. The area will be cleared of equipment tonight so there are no traffic impacts.
Water service will remain off overnight. Staff will return to the site about 8 a.m. Mar. 1, to continue excavation, expose the pipe, and make the repair.
The Vail Racquet Club has graciously agreed to allow use of its shower facilities by affected residents and guests. The Club is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will note the name and property address of those who request access to the facilities.
1:45 p.m., Feb. 28, 2023
Staff and excavation equipment are onsite and unable to safely dig until a mechanical company arrives to protect nearby infrastructure. Current weather conditions are creating additional challenges. The safety of our staff and customers is of utmost importance.
10:30 a.m., Feb. 28, 2023
Staff and equipment are onsite waiting for all locates to be completed prior to any excavation.
Bottled water has been delivered to affected properties and is available with district staff onsite at Glen Falls Lane.
The Vail Racquet Club has graciously agreed to allow use of its shower facilities by affected residents and guests. The Club is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will note the name and property address of those who request access to the facilities.
9 a.m., Feb. 28, 2023
Limited staff are onsite as a snowstorm and a safety closure of Vail Pass has delayed access. Once the site is prepared and all utilities in the area have been properly located, excavation of the suspected leak area will begin.
5:15 p.m., Feb. 27, 2023
At about 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, Eagle River Water & Sanitation District was notified of a leaking water main on Glen Falls Lane in East Vail. Crews responded shortly thereafter to assess the situation and a section of water main was shutdown to prevent property damage, leaving certain properties with no water service.
Water service will remain off overnight and until further notice. District crews will be onsite about 8 a.m. Feb. 28 to prepare for repairs, including emergency locates.
Affected properties include 14 single-family homes on Glen Falls Lane and four (6-unit) buildings on Timber Falls Court (see map).
If you have questions, contact Customer Service at 970-477-5451 during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday).
To report an after-hours water or sewer emergency, call 970-476-7480 and press '5' to be redirected to our answering service.