Oakesdale water main leak shuts down service

Oakesdale residents had no, or only sporadic, water for part of last week due to a water main leak.

Water to the entire town was shut off Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 17, and restored off and on Thursday and Friday as Bob Hooper, public works director, and others worked to make repairs.

Water service was temporarily restored Friday at 4 p.m.

Workers put a temporary clamp on the main Wednesday night.

The town now awaits a part, a sleeve to seal the 12-inch main, to complete the repair.

The incident was caused the morning of Aug. 17 by an errant shovel that hit a water main while a crew was fixing a service line to a residence.

“Oakesdale is not alone with these type of fiber pipes,” said Mayor Dennis Palmer. “The stuff gets brittle.”