.jpg)
While notices were mailed to City of Mossyrock residents along with city public works staff knocking on doors to give residents a heads up beforehand, Mossyrock Mayor Randall Sasser gave one final reminder at the Wednesday, April 16, Mossyrock City Council meeting that water was going to be shut off throughout the entire city starting at 9:30 p.m. that night.
“We have a fire hydrant and a main valve to replace,” Sasser said. “We’re gonna do it from 9:30 tonight to 2 o’clock in the morning. We figured that was the best time to do it so we didn’t impact businesses.”
He stated the work is being carried out by an outside contractor, which originally told him the job would take around eight hours, but then told him they thought it could be done sooner.
“They assured me that they could get it done in four (hours). We’ll see at 2 o’clock in the morning, I’ll be standing there, going, ‘OK, you guys said,’” Sasser said. “Even if we go over a little bit, it shouldn’t impact anybody, unless people who are getting home from graveyard shift are wanting to take a shower, so unfortunately, it might impact them.”
The work is being carried out at the intersection of East State Street and Godfrey Road in Mossyrock.
“The one that we’re doing tonight is from 1948,” Sasser added.
According to Sasser, an additional six fire hydrants and six water system valves still need to be replaced throughout Mossyrock.
Public works staff are going through a process of updating Mossyrock’s entire water system, as Sasser told those in attendance the last time a new water line was installed in Mossyrock was around 20 years ago, and “there wasn’t enough valving to take care of isolating certain portions of the town.”
Over the last eight years, city staff have been adding valves. They are continuing to replace and add more valves.
“So instead of isolating the entire town, what can we do to maybe (shut off water) for like a four-block section at a time,” Sasser said. “What this does is, if there’s a water leak, then we’re able to go ahead and just shut off just those things that need to be done, so we don’t jeopardize fire protection for the rest of the town also. It’s sort of a project that’s ongoing, and as we’re getting funding to replace some of these things, we’re going to continue doing that.”
For more information on the ongoing replacement of fire hydrants and installation of new control valves in Mossyrock’s water system, email Sasser at mayor@cityofmossyrock.com or call the City of Mossyrock during its normal business hours at 360-983-3300.
