Duncan Street reopened after water main repairs complete

"It's a lot like fixing the plumbing in your home — just larger equipment," said Village Manager Jeff Wallace of the recent repair of a water main leak near the Duncan Street bridge.

Residents noticed over the past two weeks that for several days, one block of Duncan Street between Adrian and M-52, was partially closed and equipment was brought in to make repairs to a water main in the area.

"We completed the repair of a leak on the water main," explained Village Manager Jeff Wallace. "The repairs were on a section of the main that goes under the river by the Duncan Street Bridge."

The village had become aware that the small leak, which came through the storm sewer that outlets at the river next to the bridge, earlier this year.

"Because of the location and depth of the water main in that location, we hired a company with underground sensing equipment to pinpoint the exact location of the leak," said Wallace. "The exploratory dig found the leak was in the corporation (used to connect a residential service line to the water main) that was installed by a contractor hired by the State during the M-52 reconstruction process in 2012."

The corporation was removed, repaired, and reinstalled, and the job was completed last week.

"It is no different than making a plumbing repair in your home," said Wallace. "It's a lot more involved, but bigger infrastructure and equipment!"

While the area is under construction, the village will also take the opportunity to replace the lead residential service line to the nearby home, which is one of the 80 or so in the village that still has a lead or galvanized service line.

"In 2012, the state was only responsible for line to the residential shut-off. With the new 2019 Safe Water Drinking Act, the village is now responsible to replace the line all the way to the house. This just shows how the process has changed," Wallace concluded.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.