Field crews will be working around the clock to ensure continuous service and respond to system breaks and leaks.
Continued cold from Winter Storm Gianna likely to increase the number of breaks and leaks.
Customers asked to continue to protect their pipes and be prepared for potential service disruptions.
As our service area prepares for the next blast of snow and extreme cold from Winter Storm Gianna, the Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission (JMWSC) is prepared to respond to any main breaks or service outages that occur.
JMWSC is also taking the following steps to minimize potential impacts on customers, including:
- Keeping the water distribution system as full as possible.
- Testing and fueling backup generators at critical facilities.
- Maintaining proper levels of emergency supplies.
JMWSC would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone how to continue to prevent their pipes from freezing. Temperatures are predicted to be well below freezing throughout the weekend and into the first part of next week.
- Tightly close doors and windows to the outside.
- Insulate pipes in unheated or drafty areas. Hardware and plumbing supply stores carry insulation to keep pipes from freezing.
- Shut off and drain the pipes leading to your outside faucets so no water is left to freeze, expand and cause a leak in these lines.
- Close the inside valves and drain the pipes leading to your outside hose bib (faucet).
- Know where your main shut-off valve is. Minimize the risk of water damage by ensuring everyone in the household knows how to shut off the water in an emergency.
- Open the cabinets beneath any place with a water supply, such as the kitchen and bathroom sinks. This will allow warm air to circulate. (Remove any toxic substances first if there are small children or pets in the home.)
- To prevent your pipes from freezing, let a faucet drip slowly with cold water. The faucet you choose should be the one that is the greatest distance from your water shut-off valve, which is usually near your water heater. It does NOT need to be a running trickle.
If someone in your home or business turns on a faucet and only has a trickle of water coming out or no water at all, suspect a frozen pipe or meter and take these steps:
- Identify whether the problem is throughout the house or in one area. If it’s only in one area of your household, you may be able to thaw the pipe by opening the cabinets to allow warmer air to circulate around the pipes.
- NEVER thaw a pipe with an open flame. You can use a hair dryer on low or a portable heater. Avoid using electrical appliances if there is standing water.
- Use warm water to soak towels, then wrap the towels around the frozen pipes.
- If the problem persists, contact a licensed plumber for additional guidance.
To report a suspected water main break or leak in your neighborhood, please contact JMWSC's Emergency Line at 803-359-8373.
