City offers tips during peak season for watermain breaks

The city of Saskatoon is entering the busy season for watermain breaks after a week of extreme cold temperatures.

January is the beginning of the peak season due to frost penetrating deeper into the ground.

The city’s director of water and waste operations Russ Munro said the milder temperatures forecast for next week will slow that process down, but freezing pipes is unavoidable.

“It’s still going to continue. As long as temperatures stay below 0C frost is going to continue to move into the ground,” Munro said.

“As that frost gets deeper, it can create ground shifts. When that happens … Mother Nature tends to win so we will see more main breaks.”

A watermain break on Quebec Avenue on Thursday was one of 9 across the city since Jan. 1st.

Watermain breaks in previous years (from Jan. 1st to Jan. 16th)

• 2019: 5
• 2018: 20
• 2017: 7
• 2016: 9

Munro said the biggest action homeowners can take is protecting the city water connection in their yards by piling snow on top of it.

The city also recommends wrapping interior pipes that run along exterior walls and running the water for a few minutes.

Homeowners who encounter a frozen water connection can call the city at 306-975-2476.