By Henri Gendreau

When Mayor Kirk Emmert discovered a stream of water in front of his house on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 29, he knew something was wrong.

The Village of Gambier was confronted with a major water leak last Wednesday. Village Administrator Suzanne Hopkins reported the incident to the Council last Monday.

What was originally thought to be a watermain leak at East Brooklyn and North Acland Streets turned out to be a break in a service line that Hopkins called “substantial.”

Hopkins said the Village used 111,500 gallons more water than average on the day of the leak. Small’s Sand & Gravel of Gambier responded swiftly, Hopkins said, and was able to repair the leak.

At the meeting, the Council approved an emergency $1,500 for leak protectors to ensure that the leak did not extend to other lines, because the Village had detected an increase of 5,300 gallons above average for three days straight.

Hopkins said Village maintenance crews were to check all hydrants on Tuesday. She said the weather, which dipped into negative temperatures in the evening, was a likely factor in the break, and that the Village had not yet received an invoice from Small’s.