Water Department Officials Discuss Water Main Breaks

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Water main breaks are not uncommon to the area, and extreme weather changes can play a huge role to the breaks.

Slight changes in the temperature can dramatically increase stress on water pipes. The cold can cause the pipes to be brittle. Zanesville Water Superintendent, Paul Mills, said so far this year, there have only been a few major water main breaks. The Zanesville Water Department have also received calls regarding broken pipes in basements in homes. Mills said it’s very important that homeowners keep basements heated during the winter season.

“Most of the meters are in the basement, the houses. And if they don’t have heat, maybe a heat tape on their line. With as cold as it’s going to get Wednesday they may want to leave a little bit of their water running, so it doesn’t freeze,” he said.

Mills also mentioned on average, the Department sees around two hundred twenty five breaks a year. When water main breaks occur, the Department’s workers work diligently even through the cold.

“They’re out there working, the water’s hitting them, it’s cold coming from the water breaks. Because we try keep water running at all times in the pipe. So sometimes even a lot of water running as we fix it. Just try to stay warm, get back in the vehicle, then jump back out. We have a really good group of crew supervisors and employees, they’re on it,” he mentioned.

If there is an emergency water main break in your home, call the Zanesville Water Department at 740-455-0631.