So far this winter hasn’t been as cold and dry as last winter, which hasn’t caused as many water main breaks for the City of Jefferson.

Water Department Superintendent Tom Schilling says this winter, there have been three water main breaks compared to last winter’s seven.  He talks about dry ground being a huge factor in causing more breaks last year.

“With dry ground, with cracks in the ground, that allowed the frost to go four-or-five feet deep.  Compared to this year, we had plenty of rain in the fall and also, snow seems to be an insulating factor that helps with a lot of things.  And this year, we got the snow that’s made a world of difference.”

Once a break happens, crews have to find where it is using a locator, then repair the problem.

Schilling notes that some of the water mains are 70 years-old and are made of a sand-cast material.  It is a weaker material than what they use today which is called C-900.  It is a plastic material that Schilling adds is more forgiving.

“It’ll flex.  The frost causes the ground to move and it shifts and that’s what causes these breaks.  And the plastic won’t do it and it seems like the older ones (water mains) are the culprits.”

Schilling says one way to prevent water main breaks is by calling Iowa One Call at 8-1-1 before you start a digging project so that the water department is notified and can mark where the water main is located.