Editorial: Water main break shows bigger problem

Three Gig Harbor homes were flooded last Friday night when a water main under Harborview Drive burst. City staff have been helpful to the families whose homes have been damaged, and their message about additional water lines should be taken seriously.

The problem is the material from which the mains were created. City Public Works Director David Stubchaer said asbestos cement gets weak and brittle over time, which leaves it susceptible to breaking. This time, it only affected three homes, and the Gig Harbor Fire Department and city public works officials quickly got to the scene. Mayor Chuck Hunter and City Administrator Rob Karlinsey showed their concern, too. Karlinsey stayed to help until 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

What’s worrisome is what could happen next. Could a bigger break release more water and damage more homes? What about downtown businesses, which have already been attempting to deal with economic impacts?

Karlinsey said it will take about $1 million to fix two mains at Harborview and Stinson Avenue, but the city was denied federal stimulus dollars for the project. However, with the recent main break as its catalyst, the city is now writing a new application for federal help. With the city already facing a $1.9 million shortfall and layoffs and furloughs on the way for 2010, it’s unlikely that those water mains will replaced anytime soon.

We hope they can hold out long enough for the city to fix them, but the city should take charge of the situation and re-prioritize some funds due to public safety.