Heat may be to blame for large number of water main leaks

Extreme temperatures this week may be prime conditions for more water main breaks or leaks in Mid-Missouri.

Since the beginning of June, there have been at least 16 water main breaks or leaks in Jefferson City, according to the public works water main leak report. Half of those happened within the first eight days of July.

The reports varied from large water main breaks, like the one near the intersection of Jackson and State Street on July 1, to much smaller leaks.

“Any time there’s significant changes in temperature, especially when it happens very quickly, you get a little ground shift and that can put some pressure on any of our underground pipes, water mains being one that seems to come up quite a bit,” Britt Smith with Jefferson City Public Works said.

Last summer, there were less than half the amount of leaks with only seven reported between June and July, according to the report.

This June was much hotter than last with an average temperature 2.5 degrees above June 2015, according to ABC 17 Stormtrack Chief Meteorologist Sharon Ray.

Water main breaks have also become an issue in Columbia this summer. A series of four major breaks set off boil advisories and damaged some businesses in the downtown area.

Many of the leaks in Jefferson City were also caused by construction projects, according to Missouri American Water.

The city’s aging infrastructure also makes it easier for pipes to crack, according to Smith.

“When we’re doing construction, you know like I said, not only does the stress of the heat potentially put some stress on those pipes, but you add on top of that a road construction project we could definitely see some potential of some increased water, water leaks,” Smith said.

No residents are currently affected by boil advisories from the recent water main leaks, according to Missouri American Water.