Monroe County Water Authority replacing old lines

On Route 31, from Route 259 all the way to the Route 19 intersection in Brockport, a major project is bringing about the replacement of water mains in an effort to increase service reliability and to provide better transmission capacity. The lines are being installed within the rights of way and along obtained easements.

According to the Water Authority, the old mains were eight inches wide and made of cast iron. The buildup inside the lines was substantial, and numerous breaks and cracks caused a variety of problems. The new mains will be lined with cement and will have a circumference between 12 and 20 inches, depending on the location. This will allow water to flow much more freely to residents as well as to allow the water tank in Brockport to fill more efficiently.

The first phase of the work is installation. This includes the water main, hydrants and valves. At the end of each work phase, the trench will be filled and left slightly mounded. This is to allow for settlement before final restoration is completed. After an entire section of the main is installed, the next phase of the work is the testing. This takes about one week. First the pressure will be tested, if any leaks are found they are corrected. The new main is disinfected and flushed. The Department of Health enters the last phase of testing where they determine if the water quality meets their criteria.

If the main successfully passes all tests, the contractor will transfer the service connections for each home or business from the old main to the new main. Once all service is transferred, the old main will be abandoned.

The final restoration work includes returning lawns to their preconstruction condition. Lawn and field areas will be graded and seeded. The contractor will also complete all asphalt restoration, according to the Water Authority.

While most residents won't notice that the lines are any different, some may experience better water flow especially during peak usage hours. In years past, there has been water pressure concerns by residents along certain parts of Route 31, especially those who live at the higher elevations. Executive Director for Monroe County Water Authority Ray Benshoff states that the water pressure in these elevated areas is sufficient to meet the health department's requirements but these residents won't experience the same pressure that houses built down lower do. "Building your home on a hill gives you a beautiful view but you can't expect you're going to get the same amount of water pressure as you would if you were at lower elevation," he said. This project more than likely will not alleviate that situation.

The project began last summer and will continue through the summer of 2004. If anyone has any questions on the water main project they can contact Customer Service at Monroe County Water Authority at 442-7200 during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In the event of an emergency, a dispatcher is available off hours and weekends at 442-2009.