The city of Española will shut off water to much of the west side during the day Feb. 11 and 12 as contractor RMCI connects many streets to the newly installed water main running down Coronado Avenue.
Interim city manager Joe Duran said Tuesday this will almost complete phase I of the west side water project, replacing some of the oldest lines in Española. The asbestos connections will be cut out, removed and replaced with new ones.
The water valve approximately in front of Sacred Heart Church will be turned off at about 8 a.m. Feb. 11 taking water service away from customers all the way south to Nambé Street, at the edge of Guachupangue. This includes Hill, Cook, Salazar, Quintana, Don Filigonio and Nambé streets. The water valve at the intersection of Chavez and Paseo de Oñate will also be closed leaving residents and businesses on Chavez street west and south to RHOC and the Union Hall without water.
Water will be restored at 5 p.m. both days.
Water Foreman Steven Trujillo said Tuesday three full crews would be working the connections all day, both days, to get the job done as quickly as possible.
He said if the valve in front of Sacred Heart does not stop all the water flow to the Coronado line, the city would be forced to turn it off at the intersection of Coronado and Spruce, in front of Española Hospital. This would leave Sierra Vista Street all the way south along Coronado to Nambé street without water, including Española Elementary.
Española School District Superintendent Art Blea said Española Elementary and Los Niños Kindergarten schools would be closed Feb. 11 and 12 due to the water outages.
“This is one of those things that is beyond our control,” he said.
Blea said alternate plans for school staff would be announced later this week.
Everything east of Coronado won’t be affected, including the senior center, Los Alamos YMCA Youth Center, City Hall and points south and east along Paseo de Oñate.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to turn off boiler systems prior to the water outages. Residents and businesses are also advised to flush air from water lines for about five minutes after water service has been restored.
Residents with questions should call city hall at 747-6100.