Lumos, a North Carolina-based fiber-optic internet company, has encountered significant challenges while expanding its services into Columbia. Since last fall, the company’s installation of new fiber-optic cables has resulted in several water main breaks, neighborhood flooding, and even a sinkhole.
Water Main Breaks Across the City
In the Sandhills area, Lumos’ work caused four water main breaks last week alone. According to Columbia Water, an additional break occurred in the Meadowlark area earlier in the month. These incidents led to extensive flooding and damage in the Springhurst neighborhood.
The primary issue appears to stem from unmarked or inaccurately marked lines. According to Lumos, this problem caused three water main breaks in Springhurst, which Columbia Water is responsible for.
Columbia Water spokesperson Benjamin Wildt stated that the city is increasing its efforts to mark lines accurately and coordinating with Lumos to minimize future disruptions.
Past and Current Issues
This is not the first time Lumos has faced such problems in Columbia. Last fall, the company’s work caused multiple gas leaks in the Elmwood Park neighborhood, leading to temporary evacuations.
The Columbia-Richland Fire Department issued a stop work order, halting Lumos’ activities for several months. The order has since been lifted after Lumos presented satisfactory plans to avoid future issues.
In the Springhurst neighborhood, homeowners like Jack Heape have been significantly affected. On July 12, Lumos’ activities resulted in several hours of water outages and a sinkhole in a resident’s driveway, which the city has since repaired.
Heape emphasized Lumo’s lack of clear communication regarding the start of work and expressed a desire for better supervision by local authorities.
Future Precautions
Lumos has pledged to conduct supplementary reviews using ground-penetrating radar to better locate water and gas lines before starting new projects. Despite these promises, residents remain wary, recalling previous disruptions and damages.
Despite these setbacks, Lumos continues expanding in Columbia and surrounding areas. The company plans to lay 1,200 miles of fiber-optic cable and invest $100 million in Richland and Lexington counties. It also aims to provide high-speed internet access to underserved areas and boost local economic development.
Residents like Heape are cautious but hopeful that increased oversight and better communication will prevent future issues. The city of Cayce, which also experienced minor water line breaks due to Lumos’ work, reported fewer issues than Columbia.
Ongoing Efforts
Lumos crews have completed about 10% of their planned work in Columbia, impacting roughly 8,000 homes. The company’s expansion efforts will soon move to the Dentsville and Greenview areas, hoping for smoother operations and fewer disruptions.
Overall, Lumos’ expansion promises significant benefits in terms of internet speed and accessibility. However, the company must first address the substantial challenges and damages that have arisen during the installation process to regain the trust of Columbia residents.
