Oh, look a water main break!

[Eric H]

It is never a good sign when you are heading to your wash on a -4º day to see the water department working on a water main break a quarter mile from your wash. 4 completely frozen bays, more snow on the way= a very defeated carwash guy

 

[mjwalsh]

Eric,

Here in North Dakota ... winter always has its unique set of challenges ... some years tougher than others. You bring up something that I have not seen mentioned too often on this specific forum about potential water main breaks. There was another benefit that we received when we closed out our old 2" line & came in with a 4" line back in 1987. The contractor tapped into a much newer water main & it was a much shorter distance since we are on a corner lot. That has helped because there has been water main breaks on the other older main affecting service to some. There is always a need for infrastructure ... so it is a shame when people at the different levels are not the best stewards when it comes to resources in general. Infrastructure funding eventually is out of taxpayers (overall) resources with special assessments also playing a role.

As a side note: We were told by our city, the property owner is responsible for any expense of whatever repair needed even outside of the property owner's building right up to where the water line ties into the larger main ... where it becomes the city overall funds responsibility for repair cost.

mike walsh http://kingkoin.com/USA_Deficit_Reduction.html

 

[2Biz]

What a sinking feeling that is! Last winter during the extreme cold, we had a main break right at the entrance to our wash. At least I was there when it happened...I asked the crew working on it if they had to turn off the water. They said not always....The rupture was down about 7-8'...The 5-6" main had twisted and fractured about half way through. Water was spewing everywhere! It was quite a sight to watch...When they got it all dug up around the pipe, they put about a 12" long SS sleeve around it and tightened to the pipe. Naturally the guy "Young Guy" doing the tightening was drenched....But the major leak was sealed without turning off the water. They said by doing this, they didn't have to issue a "boil water" alert. Plus it keeps dirt out of the line. Its a shame they couldn't have fixed your break the same way....Your wash would have been fine if they had....

I have asked the Town Crew to call me if they ever have to turn off the water...Even above freezing....It doesn't take long for an interuption in water flow to do a lot of damage at the CW. I'm also glad I took the time to add Air Blowdown and the ability to inject WF into the HP lines if this ever happens below freezing. But then if you don't know! We'll then it sucks...

Hang in there Eric...You guys are really getting hammered up there in MA...Surely it will ease up soon. We're all hoping!

 

[mmurra]

Had a main break on our property this winter. Ouch!! Down almost an week and out thousands of $$$!