Due to freezing temperatures and bone-chilling cold conditions, the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) has responded to a higher-than-normal number of water main breaks this winter.
Since January 1st, SCWA crews have responded to 224 main breaks, more than double the same period last year when 101 main breaks were repaired.
This is the highest number in a single month since January 2018, when 268 main breaks were recorded.
Freezing temperatures cause the ground to shift, placing stress on SCWA’s underground water mains. With deep freezes throughout January, SCWA says that this has led to a sharp increase in breaks that can disrupt water service to homes and businesses and flood streets.
“Our crews have been nothing short of heroic,” said SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz. “Working through the night in freezing temperatures, often in brutal conditions, they are tirelessly repairing breaks and restoring water service to our customers as quickly as possible.”
SCWA crews have been operating around the clock to address the breaks, even as the volume of repairs stretches resources.
“Our crews have faced a difficult winter, but they remain committed,” said SCWA Director of Construction/Maintenance Brendan Warner. “We’ll keep working until the cold subsides and the rate of breaks slows down.”
SCWA maintains a vast distribution system of 6,000 miles of water mains across Suffolk County, regularly replacing 20-30 miles of older cast iron pipe each year with newer, more durable ductile iron pipe and other modern materials.
While these upgrades have made sections of the system stronger, much of the infrastructure is still made of brittle cast iron, which is more prone to breaking under extreme conditions.
“The work we’ve done to modernize our system is paying off, but this winter has been a stark reminder of how much more there is to do,” added Lefkowitz.