April 2026 High-Pressure Water Line Repairs Completed, Future Redundancy Remains a Priority

In April 2026, City of Rawlins crews successfully responded to a series of failures on the high-pressure transmission line that carries treated water from the Water Treatment Plant to the Hospital and Painted Hills tanks. Those tanks supply water to more than half of the community, making the line one of the most critical pieces of Rawlins' water infrastructure.

The initial break was discovered on Tuesday morning. As crews excavated the area, they found three separate holes in the pipe and replaced approximately 50 feet of water line. While the repair was completed and water flow to the tanks resumed, additional failures occurred immediately north of the original repair over the following two days.

Crews initially installed a repair clamp to restore water to the tanks as quickly as possible. However, another break soon developed, requiring a second excavation and replacement of approximately 30 additional feet of pipe. Each repair required the line to be flushed of air and slowly refilled before water could once again reach the tanks, a process that can take 10 to 14 hours or longer.

Throughout the repairs, the community was asked to voluntarily conserve water to help maintain adequate storage in the Hospital and Painted Hills tanks while the transmission line was out of service. Residents responded by limiting household water use, helping keep the system operating safely during several days of repairs.

At their lowest point, tank levels dropped to approximately 30 percent. While the City maintained water service throughout the event, storage levels fell below preferred fire protection thresholds, underscoring how dependent the high-pressure zone is on a single transmission line.

The series of failures also highlighted the deteriorating condition of the high-pressure transmission line. The line has experienced major breaks in 2017, 2019, 2024, and again in 2026. Recent failures have occurred near the Interstate 80 crossing, where future repairs would become significantly more difficult and could require outside contractors, extensive permitting, and considerably longer repair times.

The high-pressure transmission line has been identified as one of the City's highest water infrastructure priorities for several years due to its fragile condition. However, before the line can be fully rehabilitated or replaced, there must first be another way to provide water to the Hospital and Painted Hills tanks while that work is taking place.

The April failures reinforced the importance of that approach. City staff, in conjunction with engineers, are evaluating the most effective way to repair the high-pressure transmission line while also developing an alternate way to supply water to the tanks during construction and future emergencies. Creating that redundancy will allow the City to make long-term improvements to this critical infrastructure while maintaining reliable water service for the community.

The City thanks residents and businesses for their patience and conservation efforts throughout the repairs. Community cooperation played an important role in helping maintain water service while crews completed multiple emergency repairs.