Tampa Prepares For Water Main Breaks Due To Approaching Cold Weather

TAMPA, FL — As residents brace for what could be the coldest Christmas in decades, the Tampa Water Department is taking a proactive approach to make sure service continues to run uninterrupted through the holiday weekend.

Sudden changes in temperature can put pressure on aging pipes, leading to water main breaks. As the cold weather moves into the area, the Tampa Water Department will have additional crews on standby to respond to a possible spike in service calls.

Currently, more than 30 percent of city pipes are at least 60 years old and are ready to be replaced. The Tampa Water Department is already taking action to improve its infrastructure by replacing an average of 20 miles of aging pipeline each year through funding from “Progressive Infrastructure Planning to Ensure Sustainability” or PIPES.