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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

A water leak that forced Hayneville Middle School, the Lowndes County Courthouse, the Lowndes County Courthouse Annex and the Hayneville Multipurpose Senior Citizens Center to close on Friday, Jan. 12 and which affected an estimated two-thirds of the citizen in the town of Hayneville has been repaired, said Hayneville Mayor David Daniel.

Daniel confirmed a report that the leak had been repaired at about 7:40 p.m. Friday night and that everyone should have their water back as water press was building back up.

While Daniel  said Tuesday, Jan. 16 that residents were under a boil water notice until Thursday when water sampling should be completed, Hayneville Economic Development Director and Project Manager said Wednesday, Jan. 17 that the “boil water order for Hayneville water customers has been lifted.”

Daniel explained that the boil water notice was put in place because the town  wanted to be “proactive rather than reactive.”  He said at the time, “We doubt there is any E. coli or bacteria in the water, but want to be safe.“

Daniel said water service to the courthouse was restored Monday, Jan. 15 because of difficulty with a valve.

Friday at about 5:30 p.m. Daniel told the Signal, “We found the leak,” and he said, “We are going to do everything humanly possible to fix it tonight.”

Daniel said the leak was found on Lowndes County Road 26 in the area of the NAPA Parts Store in Hayneville.

Lowndes County School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd announced Thursday night, Jan. 11 that Hayneville Middle School only would be closed Friday, Jan. 12 due to lack of water service from the town of Hayneville.

Lowndes County Commission Administrator Jackie Thomas also announced that courthouse annex, the Hayneville Multipurpose Senior Citizens Center and the Lowndes County Courthouse would be closed Friday due to water issues, as well.

The Lowndes County Courthouse and courthouse annex were both closed early on Thursday, Jan. 11 due to water issues.

Daniel told the Signal on Thursday, “It seems that a very large leak is somewhere in the Hayneville (area). We have been doing everything (humanly) possible to find the leak.”

He said members of the Alabama Rural Water Association and specialist who were working with the town to solve the problem made the repairs Friday night.

Daniel said cold weather affected the water system.