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edwinthowaway t1_jbyewms wrote

Reply to comment by Flimsy-Lie-1471 in In Truth or Consequences, N.M., leaking pipes cause millions of gallons of water to go down the drain amid drought by Thetimmybaby

Civil engineer that works in the water field. That’s bullshit. Water mains now cost over $250 PER FOOT. Often a lot more. That’s $1.3M+ per mile.

Meanwhile, fixing a water main break is about $4000. So that mile of main would have to break hundreds of times before it is cheaper to replace.

We replace mains because all those breaks costs customers money. But for us, it is almost always cheaper to repair rather than replace.

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SkiingAway t1_jc220ec wrote

How much of that cost is actual cost of the pipe vs more variable costs?

I'd think in a small town with not a lot of other infrastructure underground and a relatively mild climate/shallower frost line, you'd be coming in towards the low end of things in terms of per foot costs.

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ScientificSkepticism t1_jc4se4h wrote

If we round the figures a little, about 0% of it is pipe cost.

Everything important is the cutting/digging/trenching costs.

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edwinthowaway t1_jc2igzn wrote

While utility conflicts can be a problem, it's not too crazy outside of downtown areas. Often, the main just goes back in the same trench as it was and we use a temporary above ground bypass during construction.

The cost of the pipe is only part of it. Opening the pavement, excavation, backfill materials, pavement restoration, and maintenance of traffic add up to a lot.

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Flimsy-Lie-1471 t1_jbyr6kb wrote

I can only tell you what the engineers told us when they were doing the project. I did look it up and it was 2011 and that is what they explained to us at the meeting. If you have an issue with it then take it up with them.

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