New Ulm’s water department was forced to dig into the intersection of 1st North and Minnesota Street Thursday to fix a leaking water valve.

NEW ULM — A water leak in downtown New Ulm forced the early closure of The Coffee Keller Wednesday, during its first day of business at a new location.

The Coffee Keller, now located at 5 N. Minnesota St., closed early at 2:30 p.m. due to a planned water shutoff for emergency repairs. The business typically operates until 5 p.m.

“At least it happened later in the day,” Coffee Keller owner Chay Henle said. Most of the customers came in during the morning. The afternoon hours are less busy. Though she was disappointed some of the student customers were unable to see the new location after school.

Larry Pelzel, assistant supervisor of water and steam for the City of New Ulm, said crews had been working in the area when they identified a faulty valve.

“It turned into an emergency repair,” Pelzel said. “We had to shut the water off to get it fixed.”

Barricades and construction equipment were visible near 1st Street N. and 100 N. Broadway next to City Hall, where utility crews worked throughout the afternoon. A trench was excavated for access, and signage warned of road closures.

Water service was shut off around 2:30 p.m. and restored later that day following completion of the valve repair. However, the problem did not stop there. After replacing the leaking valve on 1st North, crews discovered another leaking valve beneath the intersection of North 1st and Minnesota Street.

Pelzel said the leakage of this second valve likely occurred because the city shutoff the water to that section of downtown.

Pelzel said because the city had to isolate a section of waterline to make the initial repair, the direction of the water flow changed and likely caused the second valve to fail.

This meant the utility department had to dig into a section of road on Minnesota and N. 1st to fix the new leak Thursday. Fortunately, the water department had more prep time and there was less of a disruption to water service.

The Coffee Keller was able to remain open all day Thursday.

“They found a way to keep our water on all day,” Henle said Thursday. “I was on pins and needles all day wondering if someone from the city would come in with a vest to tell us the water was shutting down again, but it did not happen.”

Henle praised the city water department for remaining in close contact with her about what was going on in terms of repair.