Water Main Breaks Increase In 2019 Versus 2018

The deteriorating state of Moose Jaw’s water distributon system was front row center as the department quarterly reports were presented. And once again the number of water main breaks year over year were up.

In 2019 the number of water main breaks was 109 versus 97 water main breaks in 2018.

“Water main breaks again a horrible year we looked at some of the costing on that and we are certainly hoping we are able to turn the corner on that,” city manager Jim Puffalt told Council.

At previous meetings when Council discussed the issue they were told some time in the future the number of water main breaks would decrease to the point where the money spent on repairs could be transferred to replacement. The last estimate for the repair tipping point was in the five year range.

A water main break under repair in March 2019 - MJ Independent File Photo

There was one bright light though in the quarterly reports and that it is from October to December the number of breaks was down in 2019 versus the same period in 2018.

In October to December 2019 there were 15 water main breaks versus the same quarter in 2018 when there were 29 water main breaks.

“The first quarter breaks to date were much better than last year as you recall just around this time there were 11 breaks in that one week during Family Week and so we are glad to report we didn’t have that happen this year. So as we are saying it would have been the same time as the Scotties and that would have been quite disruptive,” Puffalt said.

In February 2019 the majority of daytime highs were -22 C or lower while daytime highs in February 2020 were on some days above the freezing mark or 0 C. The sustained arctic tempertures combined with old past life span cast iron water mains resulted in a major backlog in repairs during February and early March 2019.