Some Ridgeland residents, including many from the Bridgewater neighborhood, are no longer able to use their irrigation systems because the pump at one of the city’s water wells has failed.

A replacement pump, motor and additional electrical parts have been ordered, but it could take six to eight weeks for the parts to arrive and the repair to be made, Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee said.

“We were put at the front of the queue at the production facility and at the contractor,” he said. “They all know our situation is very serious. There is a possibility that the well could be completed even faster. We speak to the contractor every day to convey the importance. The pump parts are not parts that you leave on the shelf. The pump unit is specifically designed to accommodate many factors that are unique to our particular situation.”

Repairing the pump is a complex operation that will require removing the riser and shaft to access the pump, which is 200 metres underground, and removing the motor from the top of the well, he said.

The city is trying to find a quicker solution, such as using temporary booster pumps, but providing high-quality drinking water is the top priority, McGee said.

“We are discussing with Bear Creek about a temporary drinking water supply from their nearby system,” he said. “The Bear Creek system cannot provide an unlimited water supply, but we can maintain the minimum pressure for drinking water if we can lose the other well and connect.”

McGee issued an executive order on August 1 banning the use of irrigation systems in the affected area.

“Failure to do so could result in a loss of pressure throughout the water system, which could result in a boil water notice that could take six to eight weeks to restore pressure,” he said. “Anyone who irrigates is putting the entire area at risk.”

The city has turned off all irrigation meters in the affected area to prevent accidental watering. Residents will not be charged a reconnection fee when water is turned back on.

“We will survey the area in the early morning hours and shut off service to any home that is watering,” McGee said. “If anyone is caught watering, their water service will be shut off and a reconnection fee will be charged.”

The irrigation ban has proven successful in keeping water levels in the city’s water tanks high. “Water levels in the water tanks have not dropped below minimum levels this morning and our second well is currently able to meet domestic water needs,” McGee said on August 2.

Residents affected by the pump failure are advised to wait to install new landscaping until the main well is back in service.

Residents who want to irrigate existing landscaping should contact a service provider that will do it using a portable water tank they can fill elsewhere, he said. Another option is for residents who live near a lake to pump water from the lake, he said.

Using a water hose is considered an irrigation system and is not recommended. Using a jug or bucket to water some plants is fine as it will not overload the system.

The city of Ridgeland’s water utility checks water tanks and wells throughout the city daily, McGee said.

“We have state-of-the-art sensors and controls on all of our tanks and wells and receive alarms when something is not working properly,” he said. “This well has shown no signs of failure and has not exceeded its expected lifespan. During the summer months, wells are at their most stressed, so wells often fail at the most inopportune time.”

By the morning of Aug. 1, the tank had been drained to extremely low levels and the city would have been just minutes away from reaching pressure, McGee said.

“There are strict guidelines for water quality and pressure is a key factor,” he said. “We can continue to deliver high-quality water by controlling the pressure.”

McGee said banning the use of irrigation systems was absolutely necessary to allow the system to maintain water pressure.

Once repairs are completed and the main well is put back into service, it should function like new and provide the entire water system with the water it needs, as it has for 14 years, McGee said.

The city has been working on a plan to improve the reliability of the western system for several years.

“We are about to spend $41,000,000 to improve the water system,” he said. “It will take about three years to complete. The plan calls for three new wells and four new water tanks. As a result of the plan, the western water system will receive another 1,500 GPM (gallons per minute) well and a 500,000 gallon water tank. This system, when completed, will more than double the demand.”

The ban on the use of irrigation systems applies to these streets: Aaron Lane, Alexander Drive, Alice Lane, Arthur Lane, Bridgemont Circle, Bridgemont Lane, Bridgeview Circle, Bridgewater Bend, Bridgewater Boulevard, Bridgewater Crossing 1 (19 and 121), Casmir Drive, Cherry Laurel Court, Cherry Laurel Lane, Chicot Cove, Cypress Cove, Cypress Lane, Deer Circle, Fox Hollow Place, Green Glades, Green Glades Pass, Green Trace Cove, Green’s Crossing Road, Heron’s Circle, Herons Cove, Herons Court, Herons Landing , Herons Lane, Hickory Road, Hidden Creek Circle, Hidden Creek Drive, Hidden Glades, Hidden Oaks Trail, Hidden Oaks Drive and Hidden Oak Cove.

Also affected are: High Point Lane, Hill Lane, Hughes Place, Kirkwood Drive, Lake Holleman Place, Ledora Lane, Lubertha Road, Mary Myles, North Agency Lane (818,) North Agency Cove, North Livingston Road, Old Agency Road (897-901), Peatry Pendleton Road, Pine Tree Lane, Powell Road, Red Cedar Cove, Red Leaf Cove, Read Oak Cove, Richardson Road (412-500), Rolling Meadows, Rouser Lane, Rouser Road, Samuel’s Lane, Shallow Cove, Spring Creek Cove, Travis Rodgers Lane, Twin Oak Cove, Walter Payton Lane, White Oak Boulevard, Woodland Springs Drive, Woodmont Cove, Woodmont Hill and Woodmont Way.