Replacement of MLK sewer lines begins in Patterson

City officials expect little or no interruption of service as work to replace decades-old sewer lines along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue begins this week.
Steve Bierhorst, public works director, said, “Workers will begin digging up streets and ditches today to replace the MLK sewer lines. … I do not expect any interruption of service. But whatever we have will be kept at a minimum.”
Workers will lay down new eight-inch PVC lines to remove waste water from homes to be treated and get them ready for tie-in before beginning the process of disconnecting from the old sewer lines, he said.
The current clay sewer lines are six inches with joints every four feet that often deteriorate allowing seepage in and out of the lines. The updated sewer lines will be sealed every 20 feet in a way that will not allow degradation at the joints, Bierhorst said.
While contractors work on the sewer lines, city workers will be attempting to locate water line valves that are as much as 60 or 70 years old for additional water line upgrades, Bierhorst said.
Last week contractors and city workers combined their efforts as several water lines were replaced and upgraded along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. But the tie-in at Hickory Street and Martin Luther King Avenue was not done, Bierhorst said this morning. He said city workers are preparing to upgrade that intersection and will announce if there are any expected service interruptions.
Patterson lifted its precautionary water boil advisory Saturday morning after results from water samples showed no contamination in the water from last week’s water line work, he said.
The water had been turned off for several hours Friday morning. Following procedures outlined by the state, city workers issued a precautionary advisory to boil drinking water once the water was turned back on around 9 a.m. Friday.