FROMBERG – Water is off in the town of Fromberg and schools were closed Wednesday due to what city leaders are calling two separate water line breaks.
According to Mayor Shirley Miller, two water breaks occurred Tuesday at about 3:30 p.m. One was off First Street; the other small break, according to Miller, took place in the area of Harley Avenue.
Miller said the water breaks were an emergency situation and prevented city officials from notifying the public earlier about their water being shut off.
“An emergency doesn’t give any advanced notice,” she said.
She also says crews are already working on getting the lines dug up and replaced and that water should be back on by the end of the day on Wednesday.
Each line is roughly 16 feet long.
“It’s just been a rollercoaster ride and we are on top of it and we are going to get it done,” said Miller.
Is Fromberg under a boil order?
If you have access to water, the mayor advises that if people are using their water to drink or cook with, to first boil it. If you are bathing or washing with the water it should be fine.
She also says residents can use a PH strip to test the water before using it.
Who is without water in Fromberg?
Miller said most of the east side of town is currently without access to city water.
“We shut down the pumps at the wellhouse because we didn’t want the main to get overworked,” said Miller.
The town of Fromberg is over 100 years old, so the city water lines are old, Miller said. She explained that some of the water pipes are lead, others are PVC material and some of the water lines are even contaminated with asbestos.
“They are antiquated,” she said.
Over the last 20 to 30 years the city water lines have started to deteriorate. In fact, in April of 2018 Miller said another water line also broke in the same area as the current one near First Street.
What’s the cost to repair the lines?
Miller said there are some funds already set aside in the city budget that can be used to pay for the repair.
She said each line will cost $5,000.
Schools are closed in Fromberg due to the water line breaks, according to schools superintendent Teri Harris. No word on if schools will be closed again on Thursday.
