Gainesboro Officials concerned after the latest monthly report showed that water loss continues to rise, up from 30 to 35 percent in February.
The town had hoped to have Expert Joe Richards walk the water lines to locate leaks. But Town Clerk Lisa Dodson said Richards told her he would not be able to do the work until the end of the year.
“He said that he has got so many, and he is so far behind,” Dodson said. “He has had some surgery, and he said that he could possibly call us back next month to give us a more accurate date.”
Water Plant Supervisor Jerry Rhoten said someone needs to walk the lines to determine where the water loss is occurring. Rhoten said if Richards cannot complete the work, the town may need to find someone else.
“We really want Joe because he is the one who has done it previously, and so he is always down there,” Rhoten said.
Rhoten said he believes several undetected leaks may be contributing to the increase in water loss. Public Works Representative Joe Lynch said crews are working to repair known leaks.
“We fix the one today, and we are going to try to fix the one in the morning,” Lynch said. “And I mean, we’re losing some water out on the mountain, we’ll need to put a pipe in. But I don’t know that that’s going to be something we will be able to do. It’s about 700 feet of 10-inch pipe. It’s about metal, and it’s less than an inch from the sewer line.”
A resident asked the board for some forgiveness on his utility bill after a leak on his property resulted in an estimated loss of 300,000 gallons of water. Alderman Tom Goetz said he understands the shock of seeing a utility bill exceeding $3,000, but is unsure what the town can do to help.
“We don’t have any way, we are not a bank, we are not a lonaing lending institution,” Goetz said. “I don’t know that we can accommodate spreading payments out.”
After discussion, the board agreed the resident could pay extra toward his utility bill while officials seek guidance from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service on the best course of action.