Since Sunday, seven water main breaks have happened in the City of Washington. J.J. Bell, City of Washington Maintenance and Construction Superintendent, states that with the frost going deeper into the ground due to recent drops in temperature more pipes are breaking as the ground shifts. Most of the pipes that have broken are 4-inch cast lines that were put in between 1920 and 1950.

He applauds the work that his staff has done this winter, including the work on the weekends and at night. Bell adds that the crews are ready to clear snow if any accumulates this weekend. He says they’d rather be plowing snow than digging holes this time of year.