The Mary Rhodes Pipeline, shut down for days after discovery of a leak about halfway down its length, is on its way to full repair, according to city of Corpus Christi officials.
In a Sept. 23 message to City Council members, City Manager Peter Zanoni wrote that crews had removed the failed section of the 64-inch pipe and replaced it.
It measured about 17 feet, he wrote.
Crews are working on the final steps of alignment and welding, Zanoni wrote.
The pipeline extends about 101 miles from Lake Texana to the city’s water treatment plant.
In recent months, it has contributed about 72 million gallons of water per day into the regional supply.
The city bumped up water production from the groundwater wells in Nueces County, as well as water releases from the Wesley
Seale Dam, to fill the gap, according to officials.
The welding portion of the work is expected to be completed Sept. 24, according to a city-issued news release.
It will require stress-testing and application of a protective coating before going into service, it states.
Corpus Christi Water staff and consultants, meanwhile, are expected to “inspect and analyze the failed section of pipe,” Zanoni wrote.
Kirsten Crow covers city government and water news. Have a story idea? Contact her at kirsten.crow@caller.com.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: A critical section of the Mary Rhodes Pipeline has been replaced
