Leaks drain water plant in Morehouse

MOREHOUSE, Mo. -- You know a cold snap is bad when it not only freezes lines on a few houses but manages to shut down an entire town.

"We are under a boil-water order," Mayor Pete Leija said Friday.

The boil water order was required by Missouri Department of Natural Resources rules because of a significant drop in volume from distribution system leaks, according to Leija.

Morehouse city employees determined something was wrong Thursday based on meter readings for the Public Water District No. 3 of Stoddard County, Leija said.

"We supply water to the water district. We shut them off thinking they were the problem," he said. "They had a major leak but we also had a major leak on our system. Between the two, it managed to drain our plant. We couldn't produce water fast enough for the leaks."

With all the water already on the ground, it was hard to find the leaks, Leija said.

"We shut the entire town down," he said.

City workers then began restoring service to customers Thursday on the east side of town, working their way west.

"Usually our problem area has been the west end," Leija said. "It's the oldest section of town."

City employees spent Friday "walking the town" looking for not only leaks in city lines, but to spot residences with leaks as well, Leija said.

"There's a lot of people that have leaks and don't know it," he said.

Once all the leaks are found and fixed, water samples can be taken to determine if the water is safe for drinking, according to Leija. The boil water order will remain in effect "probably for about five days," he estimated.

The city has a single water tank that holds 100,000 gallons.

"The plant is not full but it is maintaining a decent level," Leija said. "Probably right now we have it a little over half full."

Leija said county emergency management had no drinking water available but did recommend city officials contact Hope International.

"It took a faith-based organization to pull us out of hock," he said.

Hope International brought five pallets of drinking water for Morehouse residents, Leija said, which he estimated should be enough for every household to get a case.

Grayridge, Mo., has also been without water since Morehouse is the main source of its water supply.

Once the water is officially back up in Morehouse, they will be able to begin piping it back out to Grayridge, but water coming back to town doesn't mean residents will be out of the woods.

Workers will also search for leaks in Grayridge that will have to be isolated and repaired to keep water waste to a minimum. At that point, the community of 127 will still find themselves under a boil-water order.

Dan O'Daniel, a licensed contractor for the water district, said once they get water back up in Grayridge, they will have to begin treating it with chlorine to get it to the point where it will be safe for consumption. When they believe it is close, workers then sample the water.

The sample will be taken to Poplar Bluff, Mo., for testing, which could take up to three days.

O'Daniel said if everything goes perfectly, it could still be Wednesday before the town's water is suitable for drinking.

Dexter Daily Statesman staff writer Corey Noles contributed to this report.

Pertinent address:

Morehouse, Mo.

Grayridge, Mo.