According to various officials, the main area of the city affected and without water in some cases since Friday, was or is, the so-called hilltop area around Sunrise Avenue.
The plant pumps water through a low-pressure system which supplies the lower elevations and a high-pressure system that supplies the higher elevations to include the Sunrise Reservoir and holding tank.
“Late Friday, June 22nd, a series of water breaks within the low-pressure system pulled water away from the high-pressure system resulting in a loss of suction and depressurization of the remaining 30-inch line running to the Sunrise holding tank and a loss of pressure on the hilltop, including SOMC (Southern Ohio Medical Center).
As subsequent breaks occurred and were isolated, the stress on the low-pressure system caused additional breaks, preventing the system from regaining and maintaining sufficient pressure to keep the high-pressure system from operating properly.” According to both Sutherland and the health department, one of the booster pumps at Sunrise is pumping water to the high-pressure system – but at reduced pressure, according to the health department.
Sutherland said the city ordered one of the sleeves but in the meantime received the needed part from the city of Zanesville.
According to Sutherland, the first pump is humming away on 24th Street.
Sutherland said the second pump will be used as a sort of backup if needed, which he maintained had always been sort of the plan.
“This is the first time we’ve been able to pump all day,” Sutherland said While all seemed well, the health department release stated the Portsmouth Water Works continued to ask residents to conserve water as much as possible and to be on the alert for possible sources of water loss.
Also as of Wednesday afternoon, free tap water contained to be available for fill up at the water filtration plant in New Boston.
For residents living in the hilltop area, Rosemount, or West Portsmouth if you have special needs, or are unable to leave your home to purchase or fill up at the filtration plant, call the Portsmouth City Health Department call line.