GRANTS, N.M. – A water main break in Grants disrupted service to residents and businesses over the weekend, requiring extensive repairs after crews encountered unexpected complications underground. City Manager Andrew Valencia said Tuesday, Oct. 13, that the disruptions originated from a single water main break near Stephens, Sargent and Smith streets, rather than multiple failures across the city's water system.
The incident was first reported on Friday, Oct. 9, when water was seen spraying near Stephens Street. According to Valencia, crews initially identified a leaking valve along a 12-inch water main connected to First Street and Stephens Street. The system also supplies a 6-inch distribution line serving nearby properties. Repairs became more complicated when workers discovered the leaking valve was encased in concrete, requiring crews to carefully remove the material without damaging the surrounding infrastructure. Once the concrete was removed, crews discovered another leak involving the 12-inch water main.
Valencia said the unexpected conditions extended the repair process, requiring outside assistance after city employees had worked for more than 24 hours. On Saturday, Oct. 10, the city issued an urgent water outage notice affecting areas along Anderman Street, between Davis Street and Santa Fe Avenue, and extending toward Smith Street. Officials initially estimated repairs would require another eight to 10 hours because additional parts were needed. Rather than simply repairing the damaged section, Valencia said the city worked with an on-call engineering contractor and emergency repair crews to develop a long-term solution.
The project included installing three isolation valves, allowing workers to shut off water service to individual sections of the distribution system instead of interrupting service throughout a larger area.
Valencia said the additional improvements contributed to the lengthy repair process but should reduce disruptions during future maintenance and emergencies.
The city recently approved three on-call emergency contractors to provide specialized assistance when necessary.
Aging Infrastructure and Future Investments
The affected water line is approximately 40 to 50 years old, according to Valencia. However, he emphasized that the age of the infrastructure does not necessarily indicate widespread deterioration.
He attributed the initial failure to a faulty valve rather than the age of the pipe itself.
Valencia said the city is studying its water distribution system to identify areas experiencing excessive pressure, which can contribute to infrastructure damage. Officials are also evaluating locations requiring frequent repairs and considering pressure- relief improvements.
The city has secured approximately $2.5 million in state appropriations for water infrastructure projects, according to Valencia.
He credited the city's finance department for maintaining budgets that allow Grants to respond to unexpected infrastructure emergencies while continuing other municipal operations.
Cleanup Continues
Although water service was restored following the weekend repairs, cleanup continued Tuesday at the intersection of Stephens Street and Sargent Avenue.
In an Oct. 13 public notice, the city announced the intersection would remain closed while Public Works employees completed cleanup. Officials expected the roadway to reopen later that evening.
Pipes Superintendent Mike Childs thanked his crews for working extended hours over the weekend to restore service.
The additional isolation valves are expected to help limit the number of customers affected by future water line repairs, according to city officials.