Hold that hose
By Tim Leeds
Water Plant Superintendent Jeff Jensen said irrigation will not be allowed in Havre over the weekend.
Jensen said work will continue this weekend to finish connecting the new pipes at the Havre water plant, but until the connection is completed the plant will still be off-line and the water supply will be limited.
"They're working," Jensen said. "It should be completed over the weekend, barring no more problems."
Jensen said the first connection has been made, and they just need to finish on the second pipe.
"They're getting there," he said. "One pipe is connected, we're working on the second; once that second one is done we'll be able to go."
Jensen said he will notify the people in the area once the plant is back online. He said until they make that notification, excessive use of water, such as watering lawns and gardens, will not be allowed.
"Until I give the final OK on watering that's where we're at," he said.
The new pipes are being connected in an ongoing upgrade of the water plant. The upgrade, designed by Carollo Engineers of Boise, Idaho, will increase the capacity of the plant from 3.5 million gallons of water per day to 6.1 million gallons per day. It will also increase the number of filters, which should reduce strain on the system.
"It'll be nice once it's all done," Jensen said.
Plant representatives have said that the current capacity of the plant requires that it essentially run 24 hours-a-day all week long, causing excessive strain on the system. The increased capacity will reduce the constant strain on the plant, reducing the chance of breakdown while also providing a greater supply of water for the residents of Havre.
