Water Main Breaks 101
This time of year, water main breaks can be a common occurrence. Changing temperatures cause water mains to expand and contract, putting stress on vulnerable areas. We’re fortunate that much of our system is newer than the national average, but our repair crews are still very busy during the winter months. If you’ve ever passed one of our trucks and wondered what the crew was doing, now the answer could be right at your fingertips. With a few clicks, you can find real-time updates on active water main breaks. Visit our website at www.fairfaxwater.org and click on the large icon that links to the new Water Main Break Webpage. You can also use www.fwnotifications.org/public to reach the same page. The page provides a map with the locations of all active water main breaks, details about each break, and real-time repair status updates. You can also report a water main break on the page and find answers to your questions about main breaks. Although winter weather is often the cause of breaks this time of year, there are a number of reasons water mains break. As mentioned, the age of the pipe often affects its vulnerabilty to breaks. Changes in water pressure within the pipes, vibrations caused by construction or heavy traffic, or changes in soil conditions caused by erosion or flooding can all lead to water main breaks.