A recent water leak in the Winding Stairs subdivision, caused by a subcontractor breaking a water main, was the result of a marking error by the city of Demorest, according to City Manager Mark Musselwhite.
The leak, which led to the loss of over 200,000 gallons of water from the water tank in the subdivision, prompted a boil water advisory for the area located near the intersection of GA 17 and GA 105.
Musselwhite explained that the subcontractor, hired by Windstream, inadvertently dug into the city’s water main due to a utility marking mistake. The water main, which pre-dates state regulations requiring utility companies to run “tracer” wires with underground utilities, was not accurately marked, leading to the accidental break.
Tracer wire/811
In 2003, the state of Georgia began requiring utility companies to run tracer wires alongside underground utilities to aid in the quick and accurate identification of utility lines. This initiative helps avoid service disruptions and ensures the safety of contractors working near buried utilities.
However, the city’s water main, which was installed prior to this regulation, lacked these tracer wires. As a result, Musselwhite revealed, the city had used divining rods to locate and mark the water line before excavation took place.
Under Georgia law, anyone planning to dig is required to contact 811, the state’s utility locating service, to request the marking of all underground utilities. 811 then alerts all relevant utility providers in the area to mark the utilities before digging commences, ensuring that excavation is done safely without damaging any infrastructure.
Despite the significant water loss, Musselwhite confirmed that no homes were damaged as a result of the leak. The water flowed across two vacant lots, down a street, and into ditches leading to a pond within the subdivision.
He noted that the only apparent damage might be a small section of the street immediately across from the leak area, which the city may need to repair. The city immediately notified the county of the possible road damage.
Musselwhite further stated that because many of the city’s waterlines pre-date the tracer wire requirement, the city is exploring alternative methods to improve the accuracy of locating utility lines in the future. One potential solution under consideration is the purchase of a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) unit, which could help locate underground utilities more effectively.
