By Shannon Lukens.

 

Courtesy City of Steamboat Springs Water Department

The cold and deep frost likely caused a valve to fail in the city’s water system Saturday evening. It was along the Core Trial behind the Steamboat Springs Community Center. Residents and businesses between downtown and the Steamboat Springs airport reported water that was cloudy and then brown and then water stopped completely. They were calling the city and reaching out to Steamboat Radio News to find out what was happening.

 

 

The water department asked Steamboat Radio for help getting the message out to the residents to look for a water break, possibly along a river or creek. They couldn’t find it. That’s what happened. Someone saw the break along the Core Trail and called 911. City water crews were out there right away to fix it.

 

Then Sunday morning, there was another break in the water system, this one in the Blue Sage neighborhood. Michelle Carr with the water department says the major break at the Community Center caused something called a “water hammer.”

“That likely sent what’s called a ‘water hammer’ through the water distribution system, that’s basically a large vibration that will go through a good part of the system. And if there were any water mains that had any sort of minor flaw or minor cracks in it, that likely exacerbated those cracks and that’s likely what’s causing these additional breaks right now.”

Carr was off to get bottled water for the residents who were affected while work crews were at the sight, trying to fix the water break.

She said they are worried about more breaks because of the big break Saturday night. She says tanks aren’t draining right.

 

“If anybody sees any water running outside that hasn’t been there before, please call Routt County dispatch and let them know where that water running is located so that we can address it as soon as possible.”

Routt County Dispatch is 970-879-1144.

The water department says here is what to do if you were without water: Water service should slowly be returning but it will be cloudy and discolored for a while. Residents should run cold water from the bathtub for approximately 10 minutes. If it doesn’t clear up after that, they should turn the water off, wait an hour, then try again. people may have to do this three to four times before the water clears up. The discoloration is due to iron sediments in the pipes and while it is aesthetically unpleasing, it is safe to drink unless you have any iron sensitivity

Video of water break behind Community Center, courtesy Steamboat Water Department

Video of work being done on Blue Sage Sunday morning

What is a Water Hammer? A water hammer is a phenomenon that can occur in any piping system where valves are used to control the flow of liquids or steam. Water hammer is the result of a pressure surge, or high-pressure shockwave that propagates through a piping system when a fluid in motion is forced to change direction or stop abruptly.