During deep freeze, pipes burst, water mains break. How to help DC Water and yourselves

This cold snap is keeping DC Water very busy. Over the holidays, one of its crews dealt with a water main break at Davenport and Linnean. Another, at Connecticut and Windom, closed Bread Furst and the interim Cleveland Park Library at Van Ness.

We had to close due to a water main break. Response given to me: You’ll know that the water has been turned back on when you have water. Thank you.

— Bread Furst (@BreadFurst) December 21, 2017

Yesterday DC Water revealed it was dealing with nearly 50 active water main breaks. Fifty. It’s also handling 200 emergency calls per day due to this deep freeze.

You can help DC Water, your community and your own water supply by reading up on how to report water-related emergencies and deal with frozen pipes.

From DC Water:

Temperatures in the region are nearing zero this week, causing broken water mains, frozen pipes and burst household plumbing. DC Water is currently attending to nearly 50 active water main breaks and is fielding more than 200 emergency weather-related calls per day.

In addition to the Authority’s Water Services crews, DC Water also calls upon contractors to assist when there are this many breaks. DC Water crews in other operational areas are also cross-trained to assist as needed. Still, at times like this, the mains are breaking faster than we can fix them. So, we assess each one and prioritize water main repairs based on several factors such as severity of the break, impact to customers and the environment, potential damage to public and private property, and unsafe traffic conditions due to street flooding or icing. DC Water can provide salt for icing due to water main breaks.

Over 50 emergencies city wide, combined with subzero temperatures. Crews are working expeditiously to salt icy locations. https://t.co/j2bslRZDrf pic.twitter.com/XIcsOW9b87

— DC Water (@dcwater) January 3, 2018

Please Report Water Main Breaks

Anyone observing water running from streets or sidewalks is encouraged to report the leak to DC Water. Report a problem online at dcwater.com/report-problem, call DC Water’s 24-hour line at (202) 612-3400 or tweet @dcwater with a picture and location.

Prevent Frozen Pipes

The cold is already causing frozen or broken pipes inside DC homes. There are steps you can take to help prevent the pipes in your home from freezing or breaking. In this severe weather, allowing cold water to slowly drip from faucets served by exposed pipes may save them from freezing. The cold water is still above freezing and will help prevent the pipe from freezing. In addition, keeping the water running even slightly may help keep the service line that enters your home from freezing underground or at the meter pit. More tips can be found here: dcwater.com/cold-weather-pipes.

If Your Pipes Freeze, Gently Thaw Them

If you find you have a frozen pipe, you should immediately take steps to thaw the pipe to keep it from bursting.

1. Locate and shut off the main water supply valve in case a pipe has broken.
2. Next, open the faucet so that water will flow through the pipe once the area is melted. This will help melt more ice.
3. Gently apply heat with a hairdryer around the pipe. Keep all sources of heat away from flammable materials and do not use any open flame devices. Also, do not use devices that will cause the melted ice to boil, as that can also cause pipes to break or cause injury.
4. Call a licensed plumber if you cannot locate the frozen section, if you are unable to reach it, or if you are unable to thaw it.
5. Check for other frozen pipes in your home or business, especially those pipes that are located along an exterior wall or bring the water into the building at the foundation.

For Pipes Outside Your Home

The service line that runs from the meter outside your home to your indoor plumbing is considered private property and is the owner’s responsibility. If you believe you have a problem on the private-side service line, please contact a licensed and registered plumber. The water mains that carry water to service lines are highly pressurized and fast moving, and therefore extremely unlikely to ever freeze.

For emergency service inside your home, contact a licensed plumber. Call the DC Water 24-hour emergency line at (202) 612-3400 for water emergencies on public property.

It is always a good idea to know where your emergency shut-off valve is in case of a burst pipe. If you don’t know where yours is located, you may want to look for it tonight.

For more information on pipes and cold weather please visit: dcwater.com/cold-weather-pipes.

For more information on water main breaks, please visit: dcwater.com/cycle-water-break.

Sign up for DC Water alerts here: dcwater.com/sign-alerts.