Katy, Texas passes moratorium on fiber-optics projects after damage to water lines
According to The Houston Chronicle, city council in Katy, Texas has issued a moratorium on fiber-optics projects after construction damage broke 16 water lines in the past six months.
Fiber optics companies will now be required to sign a contract with the city before digging. The moratorium measure was unanimously approved, and the council plans to pass an ordinance outlining construction protocols for future projects.
Without an ordinance in place, companies can dig into easements in residents' yards without knowing where water lines are. Several water lines have been broken, leading to a lengthy insurance claim process. Residents have also been left without water for extended periods of time when lines were damaged, according to one council member.
According to details shared at the Feb. 24 City Council meeting and reported by The Houston Chronicle, the moratorium will allow the city of Katy ample time to draft an ordinance dictating how and where companies dig. The ordinance will require companies to coordinate with the city to ensure water lines are properly marked before digging begins, and will also require companies to have enough capital on hand to pay for damages immediately, should they occur.
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