WACO (August 20, 2010)—The first attempt to repair the broken 48-inch main that feeds water to Waco’s Mount Carmel treatment plant failed Friday and now officials say work will continue through the weekend.

Until the pipe is repaired, officials are asking residents to avoid outdoor water use and to conserve indoor use.

Jonathan Echols, spokesman for the Waco city water utility, said the repair crew installed a new piece of steel pipe to replace the damaged section that failed Wednesday and said it had to be welded into place.

When the line was tested the welds failed, he said.

"It set us back a little bit but it's not terrible," Echols said.

Echols said he expects crews to work through the weekend and he said he was hopeful the repair would be completed by Sunday.

The break occurred Wednesday in the 48-inch pipe that carries raw water from Lake Waco to the Mount Carmel treatment plant, which officials say provides water to about two-thirds of the city.

Water from the lake is now flowing to the plant through a parallel 36-inch line, but volume is substantially reduced.

The city’s Riverside Treatment Plant is now carrying an increased load, but demand continues to exceed supply, officials said.

The Riverside plant typically processes about 13 million gallons of water daily and has a maximum capacity of 24 million gallons.

Mount Carmel treats about 28 million gallons daily and has a maximum capacity of 42 million gallons.

The main break Wednesday morning sent sending water 60-feet into the air and forced police to close down most lanes of Lake Shore Drive between Greenleaf Drive and Forrester Lane.

Officials are investigating the cause, but said it was probably a combination of high pressure and a weak spot in the massive pipe.

Meanwhile, the headaches mounted Thursday for Waco officials as new leaks developed.

One was reported at the intersection of Valley Mills Drive and Sanger Avenue where a crew planned to work into the night.

Another developed in the 800 block of South 15th Street near Interstate 35.

Officials said the unrelenting heat may be causing the ground to shift, but were investigating the cause of the leaks.