BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Staff Writer
LAKE BUTLER — The numbers are in for the cost of the water main breaks that left the city of Lake Butler without water for 24 hours last January and the bill has been paid in full by the company causing the break.
The break occurred near the intersection of Southeast Fourth Street and Southeast Sixth Avenue early in the afternoon on Jan. 12. The Synergy Company was digging a pit in the area to set up for directional drilling using a mini excavator. They reported to city workers that when they reached the water main that “it just came apart. Tooth marks from the machine were visible on the pipe.
City public works employees reported to the scene almost immediately. After many hours (three workers stayed working on the problem through the night, ending up working nearly 30 hours straight) an outside contractor was called in to help finish the job. Materials had to be sent for because the department does not normally keep the necessary 10-inch pipe for the repair. Parts were also necessary to repair a second break in an undamaged pipe which burst by the pressure when the water was turned back on.
The final cost of the mishap was $17,161.71, including $3,723.66 in employee wages, materials from two sources at a total cost of $4,843.06 and subcontracting services from W.W. Gay and Newsome Well & Septic at $8,595.
Synergy accepted responsibility for the accident and sent the city a check for the full amount later in the month.
