The Fort Worth Water Department has extra crews working this week with the expectation water lines will keep rupturing as the area thaws. Through Wednesday afternoon, Fort Worth Water says 72 repairs to water mains had been completed, and crews were working on 20 others.
"We expected, with the extended time below freezing, to see an increase in main breaks in older, cast iron pipes," says the Fort Worth Water and Wastewater Department's Mary Gugliuzza. "We have seen it, so our crews have been busy."
The city is shifting away from cast iron pipes for more flexible material, but Gugliuzza says the department only has funding to replace about 20 miles a year; the system has more than 800 miles of cast iron piping.
To keep repairs moving as quickly as possible, Gugliuzza says the water department has brought manpower in from stormwater and sewage. She says the department has also hired outside contractors.
With the number of crews working, Gugliuzza urges people to watch for unexpected areas of construction that may pop up on busy streets or within their neighborhood.
"Please mind those barricades. They're for your safety as well as the safety of our employees," Gugliuzza says.
Barricades will be used to give water department employees space to work but also to prevent people from driving into areas that might be dangerous.
"Please be mindful when you see cones and barricades out," Gugliuzza says. "Don't drive through the water you see in the road. Maybe there's a hole under that standing water."
With warmer weather Wednesday, individuals with frozen pipes may begin to see them thaw as well. Gugliuzza urges homeowners to use this time to learn where their own emergency shut-off is located.
"Every home and business is supposed to have its own emergency shut-off on their side of the meter," Gugliuzza says. "Many don't know where that is, or they haven't operated it in years and don't know how it works."
She says Water and Wastewater is also using its meter services employees to help people with emergency shut-offs.
People can check current water main breaks in Fort Worth here.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube