Hicksville, NY (February 29, 2016) – A recent drop in temperatures, paired with sub-zero wind chills led to several water main breaks around the Hicksville community over Valentine’s Day Weekend. The Hicksville Water District Board of Commissioners and the District’s hardworking crew were fast to respond to evaluate the damage at each site and make repairs, minimizing residents from being affected by disruption in service.
“Our District personnel are on call 24/7 and prepared to respond speedily in the event of any changes in service,” said Chairman Nicholas J. Brigandi. “We know that cold temperatures can increase the possibility of a water main break, as modeled by the recent cold-front, which led to water main breaks across the tristate area.”
Water main breaks are at a higher risk of occurring during the winter, due to a fluctuation of pressure inside the pipe when water freezes and expands. Additionally, the normal aging process of the mains may result in a lateral break running along the pipe. Pipes that burst are usually those which are most frequently exposed to severe cold, including exterior walls with little to no insulation and unheated interior areas such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets.
“Our District is committed to providing excellent service.” added Chairman Brigandi. “Our crews do their very best in the harsh weather conditions to restore water service quickly and safely and aim to reduce interruption of service to residents, including obsolete water delivery, low water pressure or discolored water.”
The District urges residents throughout the colder months to take precautionary measures to lower the risk of water main breaks. Some helpful tips include to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, to leave water running enough to drip from a faucet to keep water moving through the pipe and to stabilize the temperature to keep the pipes warm both during the day and at night.
For more information, please contact the Hicksville Water District at 516-931-0814 or visit www.hicksvillewater.org.
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