That scenario is likely, as high temperatures in the Dayton area are projected to reach 32 degrees Thursday, then hit 40 degrees Friday, and the mid-40s on the weekend.
“The pipe material itself constricts and expands (in extreme weather),” said Dayton Water Department Director Tammi Clements. “If you have older pipes that need to be replaced, it’s that constriction and expansion that finds those weak points, and that’s where your breaks start to come from.”
Those breaks have already been seen all over the Miami Valley in recent days, as temperatures hit 10 below zero.
At Beavercreek’s Cheesecake Factory restaurant, Dayton’s River’s Edge Montessori school and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, malfunctions in freezing sprinkler systems caused damage or partial evacuations.
At the Dayton YMCA, two Springboro schools and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, pipes inside buildings burst or leaked, damaging some interior spaces.
University of Dayton officials said three campus buildings were damaged by broken water pipes Tuesday and Wednesday. The University Bookstore in Marianist Hall suffered extensive damage and will be closed for two weeks, with a temporary bookstore set up in the RecPlex. School of Law classes were cancelled Wednesday due to damage in Keller Hall, and the former NCR headquarters at 1700 S. Patterson Blvd. sustained minor damage.
UD officials said it was too early to know a damage estimate, or how insurance coverage might cover the cost.
And all across the region, underground water mains began to break, affecting some residential users and flooding streets. As of Wednesday morning, Dayton had reported six water main breaks this week, and had repaired all of them, repaving the street cuts with temporary asphalt that will be replaced this spring.
Montgomery County crews have performed two emergency shut-offs and responded to 27 leak-check requests in the past two days, according to spokeswoman Brianna Wooten.
West Carrollton reported two water main breaks Wednesday, and said the city was unable to repair them immediately due to the freezing temperatures. City officials said the water was still safe to drink, although water pressure might drop.
The water main breaks may increase overtime costs for some cities, but Michael Powell, Dayton’s water distribution manager, said Dayton moves one crew to second shift during the winter. That way, the city generally only incurs overtime if a break that is reported during third shift can’t wait until morning.
The city of Dayton is in the process of a 10-year, $160 million project to replace its most deteriorated water mains, and Turnbull said Montgomery County is preparing for its own effort on that front. Some of the worst underground pipes are metal pipes from the 1940s and early 1950s, when high-quality steel or iron was hard to find because of World War II.
Dayton uses ductile iron pipe in its new projects, and Clements said that material is best because of its lifespan, resistance to corrosion and how well water flows through it. But she said despite advances in technology, there is no such thing as a break-proof pipe yet, either metal or plastic.
When the next cold snap approaches, Clements said residents worried about their pipes should open cabinet doors to let the home’s heat get to the pipes. She said letting faucets drip may not be enough, and suggested running a light stream of both cold and hot water to keep pipes from freezing. And she said calling a plumber to check the pipes would be cheaper than an eventual burst pipe with water damage. She encouraged anyone who suspected a water main break to call the city.
Clements and Jeff Payne, Dayton’s interim fire chief, both praised their employees who worked on outdoor and indoor water problems in sub-zero temperatures this week. Clements urged drivers to slow down as they pass water workers, as main breaks can lead to ice on roads.
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