Tuesday afternoon started pretty normally for me. I had just dropped off my niece, Abi, who is visiting from Hungary, at VillaSport Fitness when my phone rang a few minutes later.
She told me they were sending everyone out of the gym because a water pipe had broken nearby.
At that point, we had no idea how big of a problem it was.
Before long, Garrity Boulevard near I-84 was dealing with major traffic disruptions, water pressure had dropped in parts of Nampa, and the Nampa City Council was preparing for an emergency meeting to authorize as much as $2 million in repairs.
So, what exactly happened?
A 16-Inch Water Main Broke Under Garrity
According to Nampa Water Resources Director John Spencer, the city received the call at 12:59 p.m. on August 11.
A 16-inch water main beneath Garrity Boulevard, just south of I-84, had ruptured.
Crews were able to isolate the break and shut down that section of the line. Despite the size of the rupture, city officials said no customers were left without water.
There was, however, a temporary drop in water pressure below 20 PSI. That triggered a water advisory from the City of Nampa while officials worked to determine how widespread the pressure drop had been.
Why Could a Broken Water Main Cost Up to $2 Million?
This wasn’t just a matter of digging up a pipe and fixing it.
The force of the water caused significant damage to the roadway above it. During the emergency meeting, Spencer explained that the pressure caused portions of the asphalt to lift and move.
Garrity Boulevard in this area is also within Idaho Transportation Department right-of-way. That means the roadway repairs must meet ITD construction and compaction standards.
The city is working with ITD and its contractor on the road repairs, but officials said they wouldn’t know the full extent of the damage until more of the area was exposed.
That uncertainty is a big part of why the Nampa City Council authorized $1.5 million to $2 million for the emergency repairs.
Nampa City Council Calls an Emergency Meeting
Later that day, the Nampa City Council held an emergency meeting and formally declared an emergency.
Council members authorized the Public Works and Water departments to move forward immediately with repairs to the ruptured water main and damaged roadway.
The estimated $1.5 million to $2 million cost will initially come from the city’s fund balance, with the final amount expected to be included in a September budget amendment.
The Pipe Isn’t Actually That Old
One detail from the emergency meeting caught my attention.
When council members asked whether the break could be connected to Nampa’s deferred infrastructure maintenance, Spencer said the area could be considered part of deferred maintenance.
But according to city records, this particular water main was installed in 2002.
At roughly 24 years old, it doesn’t fall into the category of some of Nampa’s much older water infrastructure.
So why did it fail?
We don’t know yet.
City officials said they need to inspect the damaged pipe to determine whether there was a defect or another issue that caused the break.
What Happens Next?
At Tuesday’s emergency meeting, officials estimated the complete repair could take at least a couple of days, particularly because the roadway itself also needs to be repaired.
As of Thursday morning, August 13, crews are continuing to work in the area.
We’ll update this story when the City of Nampa or ITD provides additional information about the repairs, the cause of the break or the full reopening of Garrity Boulevard.
Want to keep up with what’s changing around Nampa? Follow our Nampa Growth & Development page for major development and infrastructure updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Garrity water main break happen?
The 16-inch water main broke beneath Garrity Boulevard just south of Interstate 84 in Nampa.
When did the water main break?
The City of Nampa received the report at approximately 12:59 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
Did Nampa residents lose water?
City officials said no customers were left without water, although water pressure temporarily dropped below 20 PSI and prompted a public notification.
How much could the repairs cost?
Nampa City Council authorized an estimated $1.5 million to $2 million for emergency repairs to the water main and roadway.
What caused the water main to break?
The cause is still under investigation. The city says the water main was installed in 2002, and officials plan to investigate what caused it to fail.
When will Garrity Boulevard fully reopen?
City officials initially estimated the complete repair would take at least a couple of days. We will update this article when a confirmed reopening is announced.
About Judit & Isaac
Judit and Isaac Crace are the mother-son team behind All Things Nampa, covering local events, businesses, growth and development, and the things worth knowing about Nampa.
Judit has lived in Nampa since 1999, and Isaac is a Nampa native. They also work together at Top Idaho Real Estate, their locally owned real estate brokerage.
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