A water line ruptured in the Carpenter Natural Area along the walking trail in Cortez about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, cutting water to a number of houses in Cortez and reducing water pressure throughout the city.
City of Cortez Public Works Director Phil Johnson said the water transmission line, between Southwest Memorial Hospital and Lebanon Road, was isolated about 6 p.m., when water was restored and the system repressurized.
Johnson did not know how many houses completely lost water. He said the entire system is connected so water pressure was reduced throughout the city until crews isolated the ruptured line.
Water leakage from the ruptured line damaged at least 60 feet of sidewalk panels on the walking trail in the Carpenter Natural Area, and that will take sometime to repair, Johnson said.
Crews were working Monday to repair the ruptured line, Johnson said.
The line was 36 years old. Johnson said the city’s water system has pipes even older than the one that burst, and it also has a maintenance schedule to replace the old pipes, he said.
Johnson didn’t have an estimate on when the walking trail could be repaired.
parmijo@durangoherald.com