After numerous water line ruptures in the area over several years, EPCOR Water has outlined a plan to replace more than a mile of 12-inch water main under Sunridge Drive.

Representatives of EPCOR made a presentation to the Town Council last month after a crew had evaluated the water line configuration at the intersection of Sunridge and Palisades Boulevard.

Operations Director Jeff Stuck said the company wants to address the problem of the water main breaks, which he called disruptive to neighbors and expensive.

“They do a large amount of damage and we work to make repairs happen as quickly as possible, but sometimes the closures run for several days,” Stuck said.

He said EPCOR has spent $750,000 in repairs on Sunridge Drive alone since 2008.

Stuck said they will be open to discussion with neighbors to determine the most opportune time to make the repairs with minimal disruption. The work will probably not begin soon. It was explained that funding for the work is not in the company’s budget for the coming year so they may not get to the project until 2019.

EPCOR Engineering Director Andrew Brown said they have confirmed the issues with the line.

“We wanted to make sure we understood the cause of the problem,” Brown said. “As we suspected the installation of the [pipe] bedding is inadequate and that is the number one reason for the breaks.”

The focus of the work will be under Sunridge Drive between Palisades Boulevard and Desert Canyon Drive. Brown said they will be replacing 5,500 feet of 12-inch water main with a sturdier pipe and improved bedding.

They estimate the cost will be about $1.2 million. Brown said as work for the coming year unfolds they will see whether they will be able to advance the work by moving funds around.