Mifflinburg begins water main replacement on Old Orchard Lane

Residents on Old Orchard Lane were warned to plan for water shut-offs, possible boil water advisories and restricted access as Mifflinburg Borough moved ahead with a main replacement project set to begin the week of July 20. The work will stretch from Quarry Road to the booster station, and crews were expected to be in front of homes as the line is replaced.

The borough said the existing water main on Old Orchard Lane was in poor condition, prompting the project. Dave Gutelius Excavating was hired to do the work, which includes new valving, customer service connections and replacement of the water pumping booster station near the Route 304 reservoir area. Yard and driveway restoration will follow where needed so service can be reconnected and electric power supplied to the new station.

For households along the street, the short-term effect will be inconvenience: water shut-offs while crews make the new connections, limited access for vehicles and deliveries, and interruptions to day-to-day travel while the trench is open. The borough said some shut-offs could require boil water advisories, a precaution that usually follows pressure disruptions or service changes in a neighborhood system.

The bigger purpose is to keep the borough from carrying a failing line and an aging booster station into another season of service stress. By replacing both the distribution main and the pumping equipment at the same time, the borough is trying to protect pressure, flow and overall reliability on a part of the system that serves homes near the work zone. Residents were told to plan alternate routes and contact the borough office with questions while the project is underway.