Officials are still trying to determine the identity of the contractor who struck a 30-inch water main while doing work in an Edison, New Jersey neighborhood August 13.
According to an article on the local NBC affiliate’s website, the break sent a geyser of water shooting up onto the roof of a house consisting of two single-family homes. The water damaged the roof on the right side of the residence, leading to the evacuation of the entire building. In a Facebook post, Edison Mayor Sam Joshi said that no one was injured in the incident and nearby residents were not expected to have water flow disrupted due to the damaged line being separate from the residential distribution system.
Joshi added that his office is working to determine the identity of the contractor who caused the damage, and which company they were working for.
“The home obviously cannot be occupied,” Joshi said. “I’ve spoken to the resident, she said she was gonna find another place to [stay]. Again, no one was injured, but it took a couple of hours for the water main break to slow down because there were a lot of valves that had to be shut off.”
Middlesex Water Company, which owns and operates the main that was damaged, told the local ABC affiliate that the contractor who hit the water main was not working for them during the time of the incident. The company said it is reviewing the matter.
“Repairs are still continuing, and the road remains closed,” the water company said in a statement. “We anticipate having the road re-opened tomorrow mid-day and that the main will be returned to service by Friday mid-day.”
Elizabethtown Gas, which owns the gas lines in the area, said in a statement that the contractor who caused the damage was not working for them either.
“The Fire Department alerted Elizabethtown Gas about the incident last night and asked Elizabethtown Gas to shut off the gas to two houses for safety reasons,” the company said in a statement. “Elizabethtown Gas and our contractors did not have any crews working in Edison [on August 13], when the incident occurred. Our priority is always the safety of the customers and the communities we serve.”
Srujana Panda, a nearby resident, said the incident left them and their neighbors terrified.
“It was coming at a certain angle,” Panda told the ABC affiliate. “If it came at another angle, it could’ve hit any of these other houses.”
Frank Adinolfe, whose home is attached to the damaged house, said he raced outside when he heard the water gushing.
“I was afraid if I opened the door, we would see a lot of water,” Adinolfe said. “But no water at all, so we really lucked out. But my neighbor really got it next door to us.”
GPRS Services Help Prevent Utility Strikes
Whether it’s a 30-inch water main or a gas line, striking an underground utility while digging can endanger you, your team, and the surrounding community.
GPRS helps prevent utility strikes by mapping subsurface utilities for you prior to you breaking ground – so you know where you can and can’t safely dig.
Using state-of-the-art technology such as ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic (EM) locating, and remote-controlled sewer pipe inspection rovers, our SIM and NASSCO-certified Project Managers Intelligently Visualize The Built World® to keep you on time, on budget, and safe.
But even our 99.8%+ accurate utility locating services can’t help you if you aren’t able to easily share that data with everyone working on site. That’s why GPRS created SiteMap® (patent pending), our project & facility management application that provides accurate existing condition documentation to protect your assets and people.
Compatible with your existing GIS platform and accessible 24/7 from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, SiteMap® provides you with the peace of mind that comes with knowing you, your team, and your subcontractors are all working off the same accurate data. With SiteMap®, you can plan, design, manage, dig, and build better.
The best part: every GPRS client receives a complimentary SiteMap® Personal subscription with every utility locate we conduct.
GPRS SiteMap® team members are currently scheduling live, personal SiteMap® demonstrations. Click below to schedule your demo today!
Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week Returns
GPRS aims to help municipalities, facility managers, and more enhance their water & wastewater infrastructure maintenance and protection planning. To that end, we are excited to announce that the second annual Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week will run October 21-25, 2024.
During your free WSDAW presentation, your team will learn:
- Why your infrastructure is more vulnerable to damage than ever before
- The risks to your systems’ equipment posed by improper/infrequent maintenance
- How routine water loss surveys, and proactive water, sewer, and stormwater system maintenance plans eliminate service interruptions and maintain your entity’s reputation
- How to keep non-revenue water (NRW) loss from hurting your community and your bottom line
- How to mitigate the risks of cross bores
- And more!
Click here to sign up for your free WSDAW presentation today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of informational output is provided when GPRS conducts a utility locate?
Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.
GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor. Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.
Can GPRS find PVC piping and other non-conductive utilities?
GPR scanning is exceptionally effective at locating all types of subsurface materials. There are times when PVC pipes do not provide an adequate signal to ground penetrating radar equipment and can’t be properly located by traditional methods. However, GPRS Project Managers are expertly trained at multiple methods of utility locating.
Can GPRS locate a pipe in addition to evaluating its integrity?
Yes! Our SIM- and NASSCO-certified Project Managers use VPI technology equipped with sondes, which are instrument probes that allow them to ascertain the location of underground utilities from an inaccessible location. This allows them to use electromagnetic (EM) locating to map sewer systems while evaluating them for defects.
