Water Service Restored In Wagoner Late Tuesday After Valve Breaks

Ashli Sims, News On 6

WAGONER, Oklahoma -- A water line break in downtown Wagoner shut off the city's water supply Tuesday after and evening.

City crews worked late into the night to repair an old, leaky line when a valve gave way.

"As you can see right over there a 12 inch just blew plum out so we had 12 inches worth of water from the whole system and we couldn't get it shut off," Dwayne Elam, Wagoner Utilities

Dwayne Elam says they shut down the water plant to keep the towers from running dry, but that drained the city's faucets of water.

Russell Pofahl runs a nearby shoe repair shop and didn't notice his water was off until News On 6 told him.

"Well if it's just three or four hours it shouldn't be too bad. I think we can make it that long," he said.

A diner across the street closed up shop, posting an apology to customers.

Over at Sun Loan Company, they had their own version of Aqua man show up in the nick of time.

"We had just used up the last of our bottled water. And I had just said to our manager, 'What are we going to do?' And that's when our Culligan guy showed up. So we were like, 'Yay! He's our hero!'"Melanie Churchill said.

Fully stocked with water, Melanie Churchill was more worried about crews hard at work.

"I really do, cause there's no shade over there at all for them. But they're determined," she said. Resident:

"It's a tough job a lot of people don't appreciate what these guys go through that work for me until they have to walk those shoes," Elam said.

Elam said they're going to patch the line and try to get the system back online as soon as possible.

"It's an inconvenience, but it's just one of those things. You just have to smile and realize they'll get it fixed and eventually the heat will turn off," said Churchill.

Officials say the valve was repaired before midnight and service has been restored.