Quick temperature changes often result in water main breaks in southern Colorado

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Temperatures were in single digits across much of the area during winter storms earlier this week but warmed to around 50 Thursday, and such weather changes often lead to underground breaks in water mains.

A Colorado Springs Utilities crew spent much of the day working on a water line along North Rockrimmon Boulevard near Delmonico Drive. Repairs were finished by 3 p.m., but lane closures will continue through Friday as workers repave the damaged pavement.

CSU spokesman Ted Skroback said the leaking water line was reported just after 6:45 a.m. Monday but couldn't be repaired until Thursday because of sub-freezing temperatures and snow earlier in the week.

Skroback said the leak wasn't a typical water main break, but was caused when a rusted metal fitting connecting two sections of PVC pipe, failed and separated from the pipes.

There was no interruption to customer water service, he said.

Still, water main breaks in cold weather can be messy and challenging -- by forcing crews to work in freezing, wet weather for long periods of time, closing lanes of traffic, creating ice that causes slick driving conditions and releasing large volumes of water that can damage infrastructure and private property.

Quick temperature changes three months ago in Manitou Springs contributed to a water main break that caused some flooding damage, required considerable repairs and led to a daylong cleanup effort on Ruxton Avenue.

Shifting soil underground and old water infrastructure are other factors that can cause water mains to break.

CSU gradually repairs aging infrastructure and the area of Thursday's break was indentified in 2018 as one of concern.

"The PVC pipe was installed in 1983, "Skroback said. "But the metal infrastructure is much older, maybe 60 or 70 years old. We respond as soon as we become aware of a problem."