Department Head: Don Mengerink Jr.

Normally, the Water Distribution Department has five employees.   The repair of water breaks take priority over many of their other duties.   Pictured on the right is the repair crew that was called to fix a leak that was discovered on National Court during Christmas weekend.  Pictured below is the leak prior to its repair.

When responding to a call, crew members first turn  off water main valves on each side of the water break.  Maps, experience, and leak locator listening devices aid in determining where a leak is in relationship to where the water is surfacing. Some ruptures have been located as far as 60 feet from where the water has surfaced.

A hydro-hammer and backhoe are used to begin an actual dig.  Water from the saturated soil fills in the hole as the dig progresses.  At some point, a pump is used to remove the water.  When the water line is reached, employees then use a hand shovel to dig around the pipe.  Digs go on until the rupture is located.  Many times a repair clamp can be used to patch the pipe.  Other times a section of pipe may need to be replaced.

The head of this department is responsible for budgeting, project priority, and supervising.   Additional duties include areas outside of water distribution, such as the actual digging on major city projects. This department head operates heavy equipment such as the track hoe when trench boxes are used for storm and sanitary sewer capital improvement projects. This department also has a backhoe operator who is an on-scene supervisor.

In addition to assisting on the repair of water breaks,  meter readers collect usage data from residential water meters  for the Water Office.  At times they also provide leak inspections, using a listening device.