The city of Columbia is currently dealing with some unexpected water main break challenges, resulting in disruptions that are affecting various neighborhoods. The Columbia Water Department is hard at work repairing leaking pipes to restore normalcy to water service across the city. Repairs were recently completed in the block of Garners Ferry Road , where water service has been successfully restored.
Traffic on Garners Ferry Road is still feeling the effects of the incident. Inbound traffic has been reduced to one lane , while outbound traffic is restricted to just two lanes. It looks like these traffic restrictions could linger into the following week, so drivers are advised to plan ahead. Meanwhile, a separate water main break has popped up in the block of Broad River Road. This eight-inch rupture has temporarily impacted local homes and businesses, sparking a boil water advisory for the area around Geology Road.
In any case, if residents notice discolored water coming from their taps, they are encouraged to reach out to Columbia Water Customer Service for help. Residents have also reported discolored water following a larger inch break in the historic Earlewood neighborhood earlier this month on January Although concerns arose on whether a boil water advisory should have been issued for Earlewood, Columbia Water clarified that the integrity of the water system remained intact during that incident.
Residents reported around 40 complaints of discolored water in Earlewood and nearby Hyatt Park, primarily due to a phenomenon known as tuberculation. This is a fancy term for iron corrosion and sediment buildup found in older piping systems.
As a result, Columbia Water is actively working on refining its communication protocols to better inform residents about service disruptions through notifications via Nixle and social media platforms.
