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Irrigation leak at Blackburn Park leaves soccer field soggy

City crews bring in vacuum truck to repair broken pipe
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Salmon Arm city crews locate the source of an irrigation leak in Blackburn Park on Thursday, July 30 with the use of a vacuum truck that sucked excess dirt and water out of a hole to pinpoint a break. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

The upper field at Blackburn Park was a little soggy Thursday morning, so city works crews brought in a big helper.

On July 30, a large vacuum truck could be seen parked along Fifth Avenue SW, its hose protruding into Blackburn Park.

When a leak in the irrigation line was discovered, crews opted to use the vac truck, partly because of the plus-30 C heat and the relative ease of the giant vacuum cleaner in comparison to shovelling.

After removing the sod covering the earth around the offending PVC pipe, the truck was used to vacuum up the dirt and water surrounding it. Although this type of truck is also used to repair sewer lines, Thursday’s task was less odoriferous.

The pipe was left exposed so it could be repaired later during the day.

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marthawickett@saobserver.net
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Martha Wickett

About the Author: Martha Wickett

came to Salmon Arm in May of 2004 to work at the Observer. I was looking for a change from the hustle and bustle of the Lower Mainland, where I had spent more than a decade working in community newspapers.
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