By ROB LARSON
Daily Press Staff Writer
Ready to tackle the problem of the city’s “mechanically broken” fire hydrants, Artesia’s Infrastructure Department will begin the first phase of the Fire Hydrant Project this week.
“We found that 10 percent of the hydrants were mechanically broken, in one way or another, throughout the City of Artesia,” Byron Landfair, Artesia’s Infrastructure Director, said. “We’ve already started digging some of those up to get ODs (outside diameter) on pipe sizes and to figure out how they’re connected and make sure we get the parts we need, but the real replacement will start this upcoming week.” … For the rest of the story, subscribe in print and on the web.
According to Landfair, the early phases of the project began sometime in the middle of last month. If all goes to plan, crews will finish replacing 45 faulty hydrants by early November. Six additional hydrants will also be installed “to help cover the gaps” in the city’s water system for the fire department’s benefit.
Changing locations in two-week increments, crews will be focusing primarily on the northeast and southeast parts of Artesia, with the areas surrounding the schools receiving attention first.
“In the beginning of this round, we’ll be concentrating around school areas,” Landfair said. “Because the schools are out for the summer, we want to get in there, shut the water off, and redo those hydrants while the schools aren’t being used.”
