March 19, 2024

Four water main breaks in four days

Dry weather creates challenge for water delivery

Whoever heard of a heat wave causing a flood? Apparently, the problem is common enough for those working in water management. Pipes crack under pressure, and dry conditions bring it on.

Four breaks in four days

From Friday, July 14, to Monday, July 17, there were four water main failures in Osceola. At the intersection of Grant and Fillmore, 130 W. Clay St., 116 W. Pearl St. and 206 S. Lincoln St. pipes went out, wasting water and leaving people in those areas without service for hours while repairs were made. While rumors abound, it seems the heat is the source of the problem.

“The overly dry weather is causing the ground to shift, which is what we believe is causing our current main breaks,” said Osceola Water Works Superintendent Brandon Patterson.

That’s bad news at the start of a week that looks to stay hot and sunny.

“It is very likely they will continue to happen again. With no rain the ground will continue to dry out and shift causing the water mains to break,” said Patterson.

Quick repair times and complications

While the majority of breaks were fixed within a few hours, there have been complaints of repairs taking too long for what work was needed. The Water Works is coming under heat for waiting hours for what residents consider basic repairs that should have been fixed within a few minutes.

“By law, we have to call Iowa One Call before we dig,” said Patterson. “This is so all utilities can come mark their lines in the area. Sometimes, we have to wait up to two hours for the locators to show up, depending on how far away they are and if they are shorthanded.”

It’s a frustration for residents and for crews who want to get problems taken care of as quickly as is possible.

How you can help

During winter, frozen pipes can break, though homeowners can often lower their risks. The same isn’t quite true for heat-related water pipe failures. However, increased usage puts a strain on the system which can contribute and may be a factor in Osceola’s recent problems.

“We are continuing to see daily water pump age numbers that are higher than normal for this early in the year. People are using a lot of water,” said Patterson.

Conserving water is always a good idea, and it can be as simple as a homeowner taking faster showers. Others feel the problems are the sign of an obvious problem — a continually limited water supply.

“In 2005, if I remember correctly, in that year we [had] about a month or two left of usable water,” said City Council member Dr. George Fotiadis, “and got fiercely lucky to have a big September rain storm (that raised the casino boat so quickly it bent their ramp). We have a water supply that is not going to be adequate for any growth at all, and I would argue that, even in this year when we’re not even declared in a drought area yet, it’s already starting to strain again. We do need a replacement.”

As for now, Patterson said, staying aware is our best defense against water problems.

“Our local law enforcement has been really good at helping us watch for them,” he said. “There is really not much the consumer can do at this point, other than reporting main breaks when they notice them. During normal hours call the water utility at 641-342-1435 or the sheriff or police department after hours.”