The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) began repairs on Monday, Sept. 12, on a leaking 16-inch pipeline by the Verano Avenue bridge. The pipeline, known as the Sonoma Aqueduct, serves the city’s Water Division.

Sonoma Water discovered a rupture in the mainline of Aug. 17, which was caused when a chunk of concrete from a retaining structure adjacent to the bridge fell onto the underground pipeline. The leak released between 5 and 10 gallons of water per minute. The water is not flowing into Sonoma Creek.

To make the repair, the pipeline will be turned off and the water supply from the pipeline to the city will be temporarily stopped. In anticipation, the city has increased stored water supplies to current capacity, ensured the city’s wells are producing and in good order, modified watering schedules for irrigation of city parks and facilities, asked agencies with large fields to delay irrigation, and is ready to implement contingency supply plans with Valley of the Moon Water District.

The city does not anticipate any interruption of service; however, all customers are encouraged to increase water conservation efforts beginning Sunday night (Sept. 11) and continue until the repair is completed and the water supply is restored. Construction could take up to seven days.

“Our customers are already in conservation mode, now we are asking that they move to ‘super-saver’ mode. The department has made all the necessary contingency plans to continue operations and deliver water to our customers when they need it, but additional conservation will help ensure water supplies are available if the repair takes longer than anticipated,” said Public Works Director Mike Berger.

Recommended water conservation measures include:

•Turn off or significantly decrease irrigation

•Wash laundry during the construction period only as needed

•Run only full loads in the dishwasher

•Hold off on washing vehicles

These recommendations are in addition to the following prohibitions currently in effect under the Water Conservation Emergency declaration:

•Refilling or initial filling of a swimming pool from the city’s water system except as otherwise needed to maintain the water level for the proper operation of swimming pool pumps and filters;

•Use of water for nonrecirculating ornamental fountains by commercial customers;

•Noncommercial washing of privately owned motor vehicles, trailers and boats except from a bucket and a hose equipped with a shutoff nozzle;

•Any use of water from a fire hydrant except for fighting fires;

•Use of potable water for dust control at construction sites; and

•Residential and commercial irrigation except on Monday and Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

For more information, visit sonomawater.org.

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