Water main hit in Beaufort, briefly cutting service. Planned interruption is next
A main water line was struck during the installation of new stormwater pipe along Charles Street in downtown Beaufort Monday afternoon.
The Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA) was notified at 3:30 p.m. Monday, according to Jeff LaRue, a BJWSA spokesman.
A contractor with the city of Beaufort hit an 8-inch water main, LaRue said, and 20 businesses were without service for about 90 minutes.
The $11.9 million stormwater drainage project, which began in November, involves installing larger storm drain pipe along North, Craven and Charles Streets, which will lead to a new tidal check valve at the waterfront. The upgrades will provide protection against flooding above a 25-year, 24-hour storm event.
So far, 29 sections of pipe have been installed as part of the project, City Manager Scott Marshall said Monday.
A scheduled water service interruption is planned from 10 p.m. Wednesday to 2 a.m. Thursday as part of the storm drainage work, the city said. The interruption will affect residents and businesses in the Bay and Charles streets area.
