Galveston's Water Mess

[marmar]

GALVESTON — Officials shut down the water pipeline supplying Galveston Island for repairs today, forcing the city to reactivate a smaller 100-year-old water line in hopes of supplementing its depleted reserves, City Manager Steve LeBlanc said.

The city’s 31-million-gallon-reserves were badly depleted over the Easter holiday as tourists swarmed to the city and two cruise ships took on water following a catastrophic break in the main trunk water line supplying the city from the mainland, LeBlanc said.

City water reserves are about 50 percent and there is no guarantee the additional water routed through the old line will keep the city from going dry before repairs are completed, he said.

The Gulf Coast Water Authority has not received the parts needed to repair the 42-inch pipe, LeBlanc said, and it is uncertain how long repairs will take. ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7536187.html

[tularetom]

1. The solution is simple - privatize the water supply

I'm sure the invisible hand of the market will provide a solution much quicker and cheaper than the inefficient city government.

[damntexdem]

2. Infrastructure. One of many things the GOP doesn't want to spend money on.