Columbia utility crews say cold weather is to blame for water main breaks

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia utility crews had to deal with four water main breaks Friday, and city officials said cold weather is to blame.

A Facebook post from Columbia Water and Light said the water main breaks were reported across the city.

The post said water mains at 24 S. Ninth St., 705 Marion Dr., 1025 Ashland Road, and 1333 E Business Loop were broken. Crews downtown closed Ninth from Broadway to Cherry Street until late in the afternoon on Friday.

City officials say around 15 businesses were affected by the water main breaks and could be without water for up to 6 hours.

William Strawn with the City of Columbia Water and Light, said only customers on Ninth will be under a boil advisory for up to 30 hours.

"We will hang a tag on each one of them we will have lab techs come out to get samples on the water, which will give them enough time to run it back to the lab make sure the samples come out good, and the advisory will be lifted off," he said

Water and Light spokesman Matt Nestor said foundations settling because of the extremely cold temperatures may have caused the breaks.

"In extreme weather, the building, the ground, the pipes, etc. can shift. They're made of different materials, therefore they all can react differently," Nestor said.

A part owner of Lakota Coffee Company, Andrew DuCharme, told ABC 17 that the store basement was flooded from the water main break on Ninth Street.

"I have to deal with insurance, I have to deal with clean up, I have to deal with whatever it is," he said.

DuCharme said with the pandemic restrictions already, having a small business has been tough and adding on repair time from the water main break will be an extra set back.

"It's definitely frustrating this is the last thing we needed, right now you know its very unfortunate but it is what it is there is nothing we can do," he said.

As of Friday afternoon, Lakota Coffee Company plans to reopen Saturday Morning.