12:25 p.m., Oct. 30, 2021, FINAL UPDATE
Water service has been restored to all buildings.
Please see information below about entrapped air or sediment and how to flush your lines.
7:50 a.m., Oct. 30, 2021, update
Water service was restored at 7:45 a.m. today.
All affected properties except Gore Creek Place, Building E, have water service. Service to Building E must be reconnected, which is expected to be complete by noon today.
Water quality testing results were normal. Use water as you ordinarily would.
3:45 p.m., Oct. 29, 2021, update
The repair was completed at 2:30 a.m.
Water service remains OFF while water quality samples are processing. Test results are expected by 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30. If results are normal, crews will reopen the main to the system and water service will return to normal.
When crews 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.
Crews work to replace a broken water main
7:15 a.m., Oct. 29, 2021, update
The repair has been completed.
Water service remains OFF for water quality testing, which requires 24 hours to ensure drinking water safety.
The earliest the main will be opened to the system is 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30.
Crews worked until 2:30 a.m. to replace another 26 linear feet of water main and to test for additional leaks. None were found. The new mains were pressurized, flushed, and disinfected.
To ensure drinking water quality, district staff sampled at multiple locations. Sample analysis takes 24 hours; results are expected by 7:30 a.m. Oct. 30. If results are normal, crews will reopen the main to the system and water service will return to normal.
5:15 p.m., Oct. 28, 2021, update
Water service will remain off overnight, through Friday, and likely into Saturday to allow for adequate disinfection once the repair is complete.
Crews exposed and removed about 10 linear feet of damaged water main last night (Wednesday). The leak continued after new pipe was installed, necessitating further excavation of the main.
Contractors exposed an additional 26 linear feet of main today, which also needs to be replaced. Once replaced, crews will determine if there are additional leaks.
If there are no further leaks, crews will need to flush the affected section via nearby hydrants and perform water quality testing. Flushing and testing may take several hours. The new sections of pipe will need to be disinfected to ensure drinking water safety. The disinfection procedure requires 24 hours; at which time the main will be opened to the system.
Crews will work this evening as conditions allow and will resume operations in the morning, when safe.
Contractors working to locate the break in the water main
7:15 p.m., Oct. 27, 2021, update
Water service will remain off overnight and through Thursday as contractors work to expose the break in the main. Crews will work this evening as conditions allow and will resume operations in the morning, when safe.
The excavated site becomes frozen with groundwater overnight which creates re-work each morning to thaw and dewater before making progress.
Thank you to Vail Racquet Club for continuing to allow affected residents and guests to use shower facilities.
Thank you to affected residents and guests for your understanding during a difficult emergency repair.
Groundwater fills the excavation site
2:30 p.m., Oct. 27, 2021, update
Crews located the water main at an approximate depth of 13 feet, deeper than normal, and are working to expose the break location.
Excavation at this depth, in a tight worksite with groundwater and cold weather makes for slow progress .
5:45 p.m., Oct. 26, 2021, update
Water service will remain off overnight and through Wednesday as contractors continue to excavate the water main. Crews will work this evening as conditions allow and will resume operations in the morning, when safe.
Please see below for information about showers and bottled water.
3:30 p.m., Oct. 26, 2021, update
Trench box in place for excavation of leaking water main.
Excavation of the main continues as it is deeper than normal, and the site is complicated by groundwater.
Crews have yet to determine the exact location of the break.
There continues to be no water service to affected properties.
The Vail Racquet Club has graciously agreed to allow use of its shower facilities by affected residents. The club is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents should note their name and property address on the clipboard when requesting access to the facilities.
Bottled water is available for affected residents and can be picked up at the following locations:
- Main Gore Place townhomes pool area.
- Vail Racquet Club reception area.
4:15 p.m., Oct. 25, 2021, update
Service to the broken main will be shutdown at about 7 p.m. Properties served by this main will have no water service overnight and through Tuesday, while repairs are made.
Crews excavated while the main was operational today, to retain water service to nearby properties. Fully exposing the break in the main requires isolating the leaking section of main and, therefore, shutting down water service to properties it serves.
Contractors will continue to excavate this evening as conditions allow and will resume operations in the morning, when safe.
Water service will be restored once repairs are complete, likely no earlier than Tuesday (Oct. 26) evening.
Please see below for how to prepare for a water outage.
1:15 p.m., Oct. 24, 2021, update
System pressure remains low in the neighborhood to minimize water lost to the leak and allow properties to continue to have water service. Residents should consider delaying some water use activities until repairs can be made.
A contractor will be onsite Monday, Oct. 25. Once all utilities in the area have been properly located, excavation of the suspected leak area will begin.
Once the main break is exposed and repair activities can begin, there will be a temporary interruption of water service to affected properties. It is not yet determined when the temporary outage will occur. Once the outage begins, if possible, crews will continue working until water service has been 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.
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.
9:30 a.m., Oct. 24, 2021
A water main leak was reported at 7:45 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23 in East Vail
At 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, Eagle River Water & Sanitation District was notified of a leaking water main near 5020 Main Gore Place in East Vail.
Crews responded shortly thereafter to assess the situation and confer with the property manager.
Water system pressure was reduced in the neighborhood so residents have water service but with low pressure while contractors can be mobilized to repair the main. Crews left at 2 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 24.
If you have questions, contact Customer Service at 970-477-5451 during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:50 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.
