Crews Fixed Six Water Main Breaks in 24 Hours

By: 10/11 News Team Email

Updated: Fri 5:24 AM, Aug 24, 2012

Locations of water main breaks:

61^st and Havelock
20^th and Washington
22^nd and E
South 2^nd and N
13^th and H
33^rd and C

The emergency water restrictions continue in Lincoln. While residents are working to conserve, Lincoln Water Systems crews are working to fix six water main breaks.

The City of Lincoln is on pace to have a record amount of water main breaks. In 2007 there were 181, and Lincoln has already endured 151 so far in 2012. The latest--- six water main breaks since 10:30 Wednesday night, including 61st and Havelock, 20th and Washington, 22nd and E, South 2nd and N, 13th and H, and 33rd and C.

Crews are working to get all six fixed in order to conserve the already low water supply. Public Works Supervisor Steve Owen says it's all due to the excessive heat.

He told 10/11, "We've had breaks consistently since the end of June, probably averaging two breaks a day."

Owen says this year, there's been more than 150 breaks and that number is on pace to break the 2007 record of 180-181.

Owen said, "Water mains break more often when we have dry soil conditions. This is not unique to Lincoln, we've seen utilities in Omaha and Kansas City and kind of in this whole region dealing with this same issue."

Owen said the combination of heat, lack of rain and soil type is problematic for aging water mains.

"We have clay soils here in Lincoln, and as those soils dry out they they tend to shrink and contract and then the pipe is not as well supported as it would be if the soils were wet."

Owen wants people to know if you see water shooting from a fire hydrant, don't call police or think the city is wasting water. After a water main break crews must flush the line to make sure the water running to your house is safe to drink.

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