Lock Haven council hears update on leak detection, estimates 40,000 gallons saved per day

Lock Haven — City staff updated the City Council on an ongoing water emergency on Nov. 13, reporting that a contractor using sensitive leak-detection equipment has identified 11 leaks and estimated the work could save about 40,000 gallons of drinking water per day.

The contractor, Dave Bonkovich, and city staff told council that five of the leaks are on customer service lines and property owners have been notified and given 30 days to make repairs. Six of the leaks are on city lines; staff said repairs to the city-owned infrastructure are being scheduled and that additional leaks previously found by the city’s own listening equipment remain under investigation.

“We have found 11 leaks, and that equals about a 40,000 gallons per day estimate in savings,” city staff said during the council meeting. Staff also said the contractor’s equipment is more sensitive than the city’s existing listening gear.

Council was also briefed on parallel efforts to bring supplemental wells online. Staff said they are coordinating with property owners and the township where the wells would be located and that engineers will provide a further update at a public meeting on Monday, Nov. 20, at 6 p.m.

Officials warned residents that consumption did not fall after recent voluntary restrictions and reiterated that pressure-washing buildings is prohibited during the emergency. Staff said the city has asked major industries to reduce use; some have agreed, which staff said reduces the risk of mandatory rationing or business closures.

The meeting’s action items included scheduling the engineers’ briefing on Nov. 20 and placing identified city-line repairs on the council’s agenda for the next meeting. Staff said additional customer-line repair notices will continue to be issued as more leaks are confirmed.