Google Damages Water, Sewer Lines In San Antonio

Deploying Google Fiber, the internet search company’s superfast connection service, in San Antonio was meant to provide the city with a cutting edge internet option. But installation has proved problematic for water and sewer operations.

San Antonio Water System (SAWS) records “show that Google contractors broke 44 lines between January and November 2016 — almost one per week. SAWS billed the companies for repairs, receiving $134,810 in compensation for 13 line breaks. Twenty-six other breaks totaling $91,255 in damages remain unpaid,” according to Watchdog.org, a nonprofit news site that says it is nonpartisan and devoted to government transparency.

“Contractors have wasted more than $200,000 of water, and they’re not paying as much as you would,” Fox San Antonio reported.

“Google uses a dozen drilling subcontractors to install conduits around the city. Along the way, they’ve disrupted water and sewer service in dozens of neighborhoods. Some incidents spilled thousands of gallons of water, for which SAWS billed the contractors at discounted rates,” Watchdog.org reported.

Water loss is one consequences of the Google Fiber installation, according to Watchdog.org.

“The biggest water loss occurred on Grissom Road last September. There, Google contractors severed a main and released 3,332,240 million gallons. Farmers Insurance paid a $13,606 water bill for the incident, on top of $78,658 in repairs,” Watchdog.org reported.

SAWS spokeswoman Anne Hayden told Watchdog.org: “We have seen contractor-caused line breaks spike over the last 18 months due to fiber contractors. We see this as part of the spike of activity in San Antonio.”

She said that amid construction, “we are working hard to ensure that our customers stay in service and collect for damages to SAWS lines caused by contractors.”

San Antonio paused its Google Fiber rollout last month, according to Texas Public Radio:

In an email between Sheryl Sculley and San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor, the city manager outlined how city staff, council and Google had all agreed on the placement of 17 Google fiber huts. But after completing just two — and receiving neighborhood opposition to their placement — the locations of the remaining 15 are under review and all hut construction has halted.

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