Occasionally, a section of water main may have to be removed and replaced. In 1999, the Construction Section repaired 93 water main breaks. Install Tapping Sleeve and Valve. Repair or Replace Water Main Valve or Valve Box. Valves are repaired on an as-needed basis.
Valve repairs require excavation.
Crews will normally replace the worn nuts and bolts, repack the valve and replace the operating nut, if necessary. The valve is wrapped with polyethylene plastic to protect it against the corrosive effects of the soil and to help preserve it. Water main valves are replaced on an as- needed basis as well. Valve box maintenance usually requires crews to remove debris from inside the valve box. Crews also adjust valve boxes to grade and replace sections of valve boxes when they have been reported broken.