Water Main Repair Puts Another ‘Deere’ in Field

Workmen dig a hole around the ruptured pipe.

Photo: Rich McManus

A backhoe delivers the specially cut length of pipe into the pit.

Photo: Rich McManus

The meadow between Bldg. 31 and Cedar Ln. is often dotted with deer. But it was a John Deere backhoe that the Office of Research Facilities’ utility distribution group used to repair a main water line that ruptured on Feb. 4 behind Bldg. 31.

The 12-inch pipe provides water to the NIH campus and connects to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission water supply on West Cedar Ln. ORF had to wait for the ground to dry out before bringing in heavy equipment to repair the line on Feb. 10.

Workmen dug a hole around the ruptured pipe. Then a backhoe delivered the specially cut length of pipe into the pit. By the next day, little evidence of the effort remained, except tractor tracks.