Minor water leaks are becoming more common on the Peninsula and taking longer to repair, largely because of a staffing shortage at Newport News Waterworks, the region’s water service provider.
Waterworks has about 280 employees but says staffing vacancies are at 20%. About 50% of the distribution repair crew positions are vacant.
The Hampton government posted a notice last week about the leaks. The city said Waterworks has a backlog of dozens of active leaks across the Peninsula and some repairs could take up to six months to complete. The utility confirmed 98 active leaks last week, predominantly from pipes under the street…