City Crews Repair Water Main in Frigid Temps

City water department crews spent 12 hours locating and repairing a water main break that occurred at one of the city's highest locations Saturday.

The break, to a six-inch main line, was reported at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the 1500 block of Manor Road on Sidney's north side.

Sidney Water Superintendent Rob Kuhns said the break's location, which sent leaking water downhill, also resulted in problems finding the exact location. Kuhns said the extreme cold weather, with temperatures hovering near zero degrees, hampered the effort as well.

"It took us around four hours to find the break," Kuhns said. He told the Sun-Telegraph Monday that the department has listening devices that can help pinpoint leaks, but that effort was hampered because of the amount of ground frost.

As it turned out, it was that frost, pushed down by recent changes from warmer to very cold weather, that caused the break.

"When we found it, the whole pipe was broken (as opposed to just one crushed spot)," Kuhns said. "that's caused when higher and lower temperature changes push the down into the ground."

Once the break was identified, crews were able to fix it with by placing a "sleeve" over the break.

Because of the type of break, Kuhns said the water was never turned off to city customers, who only experienced a drop in pressure during the event.