The recent winter storm wreaked some havoc on the City of Powell’s water lines, causing three different breaks between Thursday, Dec. 22 and Monday.

“The extreme cold temperatures played a part in driving frost levels deeper and exposing weak points in the distribution system,” said city water superintendent Ty McConnell, saying the pressure from the frost caused older lines to crack and rupture.  

The trouble started Dec. 22, when temperatures dipped as low as minus 28 degrees and a service line to a downtown business began leaking. McConnell said a break was “most likely caused by line fatigue.” It took some significant digging to reach the service line and required crews to shut off water to the block of Bent Street between Second and Third streets for multiple hours.

“They were all hands on deck,” said city administrator Zack Thorington.

City workers got that downtown line repaired, but were called out again the next day for a broken water main on South Gilbert Street. A block’s worth of customers were temporarily left without water, McConnell said, with all services restored within 24 hours.

However, crews had to return to South Gilbert Street on Monday for another broken water main, about one block north of the prior break and near East South Street. It only affected a few residences, McConnell said, and services were again restored within 24 hours.

Thorington noted that such bitterly cold temperatures are just “not good on infrastructure.” Warmer weather arrived this week, providing some relief.