UPDATE: Water-main break on Alki Avenue

| Utilities | West Seattle news

11:28 AM: Thanks to Jan for that photo of water on the street last night by the Pump Station 38 project in the 1400 block of Alki Avenue SW. Seattle Public Utilities says a 20-inch water main has broken and crews are on scene for repairs, which will require excavation, so that may limit traffic through the area to one lane at times. SPU spokesperson Sabrina Register says they hope to finish repairs by 5 pm; about 60 customers (including apartment/condo complexes) are without water in the meantime. This is the fifth water-main break in West Seattle in two weeks (here’s our followup on the first four). We’re asking on followup whether it’s related to the pump-station work.

12:13 PM: “We do believe it’s related given the proximity,” Register replied.

3:33 PM: As noted in comments, and on the SPU map, water service is restored.

TBD March 15, 2023 (11:33 am)

A neighbor walked over to the crew and they mentioned their estimate was 3 PM.

Jay March 15, 2023 (12:05 pm)

At lease we can be thankful that this waterfront pipe break was clean water and not sewage like usual.

John March 15, 2023 (12:08 pm)

Thanks WSB for being so fast with news. My water pressure was low, and one of the first things I did was check WSB. This story was posted five minutes before I looked. Super timely!

Water question March 15, 2023 (12:59 pm)

Anyone know what was going on yesterday at 51st and Olga St? It was and 9 to noon, the jackhammered and then suctioned for about an hour. Trucks were marked for water clean up. Then sometime spraying lines on the street early this morning. where do you find out what is going on?

WSB March 15, 2023 (2:04 pm)

Unlike City Light, the SPU outage page does keep record of restored water outages for at least a few days. Nothing is listed there for that area (or anywhere else in WS).
https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/neighborhood-projects/water-outages
Were the trucks marked SPU? There’s a fair amount of utility work of various kinds going on almost daily (we see it while driving around) in various spots.

TBD March 15, 2023 (1:58 pm)

Water is being restored right now.

Ben March 15, 2023 (2:23 pm)

Seems a bit far but I’m getting discolored water in the 4800 block of Fauntleroy do we think it’s related or is there something else going on?

Tracey March 15, 2023 (2:59 pm)

Any idea why this pump station project is taking so long? In the late Fall they promised it would definitely be completed by Spring (directly to me by the workers). Seems to be dragging on forever. This will probably delay repaving the section of Alki Trail they dug up over 6 months ago. Just wondering because it is hard to skate Alki right now with all the cut outs and I am eager to get back out there.

Wes Sea March 15, 2023 (3:47 pm)

It really affects the morning commute by bike as well. Have to be very careful maneuvering around all the equipment and cones. Was channeled out onto the road today in a hastily arranged diversion, which now appears was due to the water main break. This is in addition to two other trucks on the path itself for other reasons. Man, biking on the activity path has become a challenge lately for many reasons.
bolo March 15, 2023 (5:15 pm)

From the earlier WSB reporting on this, SPU cited “significant procurement delays.”

Also: The Pump Station 38 project is intended to upgrade the station, which SPU says has been handling “a significant increase in flows” in recent years.

From
https://westseattleblog.com/2023/03/followup-alki-pump-station-38-work-to-last-longer-than-expected/
- Tracey March 15, 2023 (7:16 pm)
  
  Thanks for that information. It would sure be nice if they could prioritize getting the trail back to a safe and useable status for all users during the prime activity seasons. I am not sure why they need a steel grate across the path for this long.