La Crosse Board of Public Works approves emergency watermain installation for leak on Townsend Street

LA CROSSE (WKBT)-- Chet Kirchbaum has lived on Townsend Street for 11 years. He's never seen a leakage near his home until last month.

"We're out back here and we saw some water standing," he said. "We found out our waterline, the lateral feeding the house, has a break in it and it's bubbling up through the ground here."

The street has water lines that are breaking and leaking frequently. On Monday, the board of public works is approving the installation of an emergency watermain. The installation will impact multiple properties.

According to the board of public works, the water lines are poorly constructed and aging. They've already gone through lots of repairs. But they still don't seem to be doing the job.

"They have a history of multiple service repairs already and it's to the point where private plumbers will not work on them anymore because it's such a pain," Matt Gallagher director of engineering and public works said.

He also says the leaks threatens to erode the hill the homes are built on.

"We're not happy about it. There's a lot of concern, a lot of uncertainty," Kirchbaum said. "We don't want to lose what we have. We've got a lot invested in this place. If the hill goes, we don't have a house."

Kevin Earlindson lives right next to the leak. He also fears for his home's foundation.

"The ground's going to be unstable eventually. How much longer is this going to go on," he said. "And erosion, if you've been out back and looked our door to the water isn't that far."

Although the installation was approved today, it could be a while before anything is done.

The emergency watermain install will go to Common Council.

​COPYRIGHT 2024 BY NEWS 8 NOW/NEWS 8000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.