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UPDATE: UTILITY ISSUE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY

 

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The City of Pine Bluff along with Jefferson County and other officials and stakeholders have been conducting daily meetings with Liberty Utilities in an effort to gain updates on what actions the company is taking to resolve the issue of low water pressure in the city.

Two meetings were held today, and the following updates were provided:

11:45 a.m., February 25, 2021

 What's new since our last update

  •     Today, Liberty Utilities announced that they are donating $250,000 to be used to aid residents of Pine Bluff and Jefferson County. As they continue to address leaks and breaks, they have found that many of them are not on their system, but they are instead on pipes in area homes and businesses. They recognize that, for many of our neighbors, the cost of repairing or replacing these pipes is a heavy burden, and they've set aside these funds in hopes of helping lighten that burden. Liberty will work with Mayor Washington, Judge Robinson, and Mayor Foster to determine the best way to distribute those funds.
  •     Liberty expects to receive word later today regarding the second sample delivered yesterday to the Arkansas Health Department. A clean sample will allow them to bring the additional filters online at Plant 1. They'll provide an update this afternoon.
  •     Two customers reported leaks overnight. They have found a few smaller leaks on their system, and this morning, they found their first 6-inch line break on their system. They currently have contractors on site making repairs. They are compiling their data on the leaks found on their system and will provide that in future updates.
  •     Crews from Arizona, California and Missouri continue to assist in their response.

What's happening today

  •     The crews continue to work in teams to systematically canvass zones within the community.
  •     Liberty continues to focus Plant 2 on the hospital. This is an effort to improve water pressures at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.
  •     Collaboration with the Pine Bluff police department, fire department, and wastewater utility continues as needed.

 

By the Numbers - 2-25-21

  •     Water pressures at plants as of 11:33 a.m.

- Pressures continue to improve (as a reminder, our typical operating pressure is between 50 and 60 PSI)

- Plant 1: 45 PSI

- Plant 2: 73.1 PSI

- Plant 3: 47.5 PSI

  •     45 Liberty operations team members on site and working in the community plus assistance from contractors, local police, fire, and wastewater utility. Additional relief crews are in route.
  •     Total number of leaks / breaks found to date:

- 252 residential leaks (These are not Liberty systems but customer-owned pipes. Once reported, we shut off the meter to stop the flow of water and allow customers to begin repairs).

- Current water production level: 12.881 million gallons (typical for this time of year is 7 to 9 million gallons)

A second update was provided at 5:00 p.m. today.

What's new since our last update

  •     The second sample came back clean from the Arkansas Health Department, and, as a result, the additional filters were brought online at Plant 1.

By the Numbers - 2-25-21

  •     Water pressures at plants as of 3:56 p.m.

- Pressures are stable and in the normal operating range. As a reminder, our typical operating pressure is between 50 and 60 PSI

- Plant 1: 56.9 PSI

- Plant 2: 70.7 PSI

- Plant 3: 52.7 PSI

  •     45 Liberty operations team members on site and working in the community plus assistance from contractors, local police, fire, and wastewater utility. Additional relief crews are in route.
  •     Total number of leaks / breaks found to date:

- 272 residential leaks (These are not Liberty systems but customer-owned pipes. Once reported, we shut off the meter to stop the flow of water and allow customers to begin repairs).

- 22 leaks repaired and three in process on Liberty's system

- Current water production level: 14.71 million gallons (typical for this time of year is 7 to 9 million gallons)

 

Sincerely,

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Lafayette Woods, Jr.

Sheriff