OTTAWA — Ottawa only has one pipeline to draw water from the Marais des Cygnes River, and it is 36 years old, a consultant told Ottawa city commissioners Monday. For the time being, the city can rely on it but that may not always be the case, said Tyler Pjesky, of Professional Engineering Consultants. The pipeline probably should be inspected, but it would be cost $250,000 to $260,000, he said. “That’s a lot of cost just to inspect the pipe,” he said. Instead it might make better sense to plan to replace the pipe, he said. “We believe it’s near the end of its useful life,” Pjesky said. “… There is potential for breaks or leaks.” A break in the line could take days or weeks to find and repair, causing a serious water shortage for Ottawa, he said. Building a new pipeline would cost approximately $2 million, he said.
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 5 p.m.
