As winter nears, risk of water main breaks rises

The majority of water main breaks occur in the winter, according to WSSC. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
The majority of water main breaks occur between November and February, according to WSSC. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
A water pipe break in the circumference of the pipe can be repaired with a clamp. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
A water pipe break in the circumference of the pipe can be repaired with a clamp. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Forty percent of WSSC's water mains are more than 50 years old, according to general manager Carla Reid. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Forty percent of WSSC’s water mains are more than 50 years old, according to general manager Carla Reid. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
This is the second winter WSSC has been using zinc-coated iron pipe, which are expected to extend a pipe's lifespan from 75 to 100 years. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Zinc-covered iron pipes have been used since November of last year, which are intended to extend the life of a pipe from 75 to 100 years. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Despite costing more, WSSC general manager Carla Reid said the zinc-coated pipes will save money in road repair. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Despite costing more, WSSC general manager Carla Reid said the zinc-coated pipes will save money in road repair. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
The zinc-coated pipes are wrapped in plastic to add an extra layer of insulation before being placed in the ground. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
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The majority of water main breaks occur in the winter, according to WSSC. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
A water pipe break in the circumference of the pipe can be repaired with a clamp. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Forty percent of WSSC's water mains are more than 50 years old, according to general manager Carla Reid. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
This is the second winter WSSC has been using zinc-coated iron pipe, which are expected to extend a pipe's lifespan from 75 to 100 years. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Despite costing more, WSSC general manager Carla Reid said the zinc-coated pipes will save money in road repair. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

HYATTSVILLE, Md. — Winter is bearing down on the region, which makes this prime season for an inconvenient truth — water main breaks increase between November and February.

“We have 1,800 breaks in a typical year, but 1,200 of those breaks happen in that four-month period,” said Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission General Manager and CEO Carla Reid, standing in the utility warehouse yard, surrounded by thousands of replacement pipes and mains.

Reid said as the weather cools down, “the temperature of our source water, in the Potomac River, cools down as well,” adding to the brittleness of aging pipes.

Nearly 40 percent of WSSC water mains in Montgomery and Prince George’s County are more than 50 years old.

Reid said there are two types of water main breaks.

“One is called a circle break, along the circumference of the pipe,” said Reid. “That’s the easiest one to repair, because we can just put a clamp on it.”

The other is when a pipe splits along its length.

“That is a little bit more devastating, because we’re definitely going to be replacing the pipe,” said Reid. “And you’ll typically see a lot of disturbance to the street surface.”

With 200 repair workers, heavy equipment and leak detection technology standing by, Reid said this will be the second winter WSSC has replaced broken pipes with zinc-coated ductile iron pipes.

“Those extend the life of a pipe from 75, up to 100 years,” said Reid. “Any opportunity we have to install the zinc-coated pipe, we’re doing it, and we’ve been doing it since last November.”

While zinc-coated pipes cost more, Reid said they are expected to save money by extending the pipes’ life expectancy and reducing the need for road repairs.

Reid said the utility relies on customers notifying them at the first glimpse of a water problem, through the WSSC mobile appby phone, or email. 

Neal Augenstein

Neal Augenstein has been a reporter at WTOP since 1997. Through the years, Neal has covered many of the crimes and trials that have gripped the region. Neal's been pleased to receive awards over the years for hard news, feature reporting, use of sound and sports.

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