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Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.

Workers from Hardin County Water District No. 1 work on a water main break. About 80% to 90% of main breaks in the district are cast iron pipe-related.

Workers from Hardin County Water District No. 1 work on a cast iron water pipe break. Cast iron pipes were phased out of installation in the second half of the 20th century.

Workers from Hardin County Water District No. 2 work on cast iron pipes on Dixie Highway in Elizabethtown. In the district’s territory, cast iron pipes are more prevalent in the central area of Elizabethtown.

Workers from Hardin County Water District No. 2 work on cast iron pipes on Dixie Highway in Elizabethtown. Sectors of the county contain this type of piping, which becomes brittle over time.

Workers from Hardin County Water District No. 1 work on a water main break. About 80% to 90% of main breaks in the district are cast iron pipe-related.

Workers from Hardin County Water District No. 1 work on a cast iron water pipe break. Cast iron pipes were phased out of installation in the second half of the 20th century.

Workers from Hardin County Water District No. 2 work on cast iron pipes on Dixie Highway in Elizabethtown. In the district’s territory, cast iron pipes are more prevalent in the central area of Elizabethtown.

Workers from Hardin County Water District No. 2 work on cast iron pipes on Dixie Highway in Elizabethtown. Sectors of the county contain this type of piping, which becomes brittle over time.

Underneath certain sectors of the county, water moves through piping that has possibly seen World War II, several American presidents and the moon landing.

Both Hardin County Water District No. 1 and 2 have and are working to repair multiple water systems in the county using cast iron pipes.

Cast iron piping was phased out in the second half of the 20th century because the metal can become brittle. Elements from the soil and water can cause erosion of the pipe and make it thin.

Cast iron pipes have now moved over to more flexible and less brittle pipes including ductile iron and PVC pipe.

Justin Metz, operations manager Hardin County Water District No. 1, said areas and subdivisions most affected by these pipes breaking are those who are particularly old and that have existed pre 1980s, or as far back as the 1930s and 40s.

He said for HCWD1, 80% to 90% of water main breaks are cast iron pipe related.

HCWD2 General Manager Shaun Youravich said the district’s system is fairly new, especially in the more rural areas of the county.

However, in and around downtown Elizabethtown is where cast iron piping can be found. He said about 10% to 15% of their system is cast iron, which is about 18 miles. As more land is uncovered by the district, they find more of this pipe.

Youravich said they average about 100 main breaks each year, with 70% of them being done by natural forces, and 30% is because of damage caused by people. He estimates that about 30% to 40% of these breaks are cast iron.

Pipe repairs in terms of time and cost can vary, and depends on how far underground they are, what needs to be broken through or avoided to get there and if car traffic needs to be controlled.

Youravich and Metz said the goal is to repair main breaks without disrupting anyone’s service.

They said that in cases where a water main break occurs but doesn’t cause any major damage, a band is wrapped around the pipe while water still runs.

In the case where the damage to the pipe is significant, the service may be shut off and sections of the pipe could be replaced.

Repairs could take anywhere between less than an hour to a whole day, and cost less than $1,000 to thousands of dollars, according to Metz and Youravich.

Metz said he hasn’t seen an uptick in water main breaks in the district, but the failure of these cast iron pipes are going to continue.

“It’s prone to failure the older it gets,” Metz said.

HCWD2 currently has two projects in development where large portions of cast iron pipe is being replaced.

The Miracle Mile Project is the replacement of a mile of cast iron pipe on Dixie Highway that was installed around 1965. It stretches from Baptist Health Hardin to about the Lowe’s/Walmart area.

“That was an area that we identified where we’re having issues with main breaks,” Youravich said.

The district also has been working on a project that replaces iron piping from downtown Elizabethtown to Baptist Health Hardin.

Ultimately, Youravich said every type of pipe has a life expectancy. He said it’s usually around 75 years for nearly all materials.

Metz said the eventual replacement of all cast iron pipe will be a combination of large replacement projects and small repair and replacement jobs over time.

Andrew Harp can be reached at 270-505-1414 or aharp@thenewsenterprise.com.

Andrew Harp can be reached at 270-505-1414 or aharp@thenewsenterprise.com.

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