AHeights Water Main Breaks Caused By Old Pipes, Cold: Official

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Village officials are blaming brutaly cold temperatures and the condition of older pipes for a series of Arlington Heights water main breaks since just after Christmas, according to the Arlington Heights Post. The village has received about seven reports of breaks since Dec. 26, the report stated. The latest break happened Wednesday at Frontena Drive and Greenbrier Court, the report added.

When frigid weather conditions hit, the cold can create downward pressure on a water main, forcing pipes to expand and contract, which then creates cracks, Arlington Heights Public Works Director Scott Shirley told the Post. Pressure underground — this time, caused by water freezing and expanding upwards — also can lead to potholes in roads, he added.

Shirley told the Post that older Arlington Heights neighborhoods are filled with cast-iron pipes from the 1970s that have weakened as they've corroded. The village has earmarked $4 million over the next seven years for water and sewer improvements, but it's hard for crews to know which pipes need immediate attention before they break, he added.

The cold not only can be the potential cause of burst water mains, but it also can make repairing such breaks more difficult for work crews. Shirley told the Post that the hazardous conditions can create icy roads while a broken main is being fixed, and it can take its toll on the workers and their equipment.

"When it's this cold, the mechanical equipment we use is affected, and

so are the people working," he said. "The guys need to take turns warming up in the
truck, and everyone needs to pace themselves."

More via the Arlington Heights Post

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