The city's Water Department outlined its comprehensive approach to repairing water main breaks in an educational presentation describing the step-by-step process used throughout the year.

Water main breaks occur most frequently during winter months when frost penetrates the ground, causing pipes to shift and become stressed, according to the department. Summer repairs prove more straightforward as water typically surfaces directly above the break location, while winter conditions and new road surfaces can redirect water flow, complicating identification efforts.

The repair process begins with throttling down water flow to prevent property damage and road surface impact, followed by requesting emergency locate services. Gas utilities, communication utilities and other providers mark their lines to prevent accidental strikes during excavation. When no obstructions exist, crews use excavator equipment with jackhammer attachments to remove hard surfaces and dig through frozen ground when necessary.

Workers install dig box safety equipment to prevent cave-ins before applying stainless steel repair bands with rubber lining to seal cracks in the water main. The department then charges the water main, checks for leaks and purges air from the system to prevent problems in residential connections. Crews backfill with fresh material and use tamper equipment for immediate road compaction.

The Water Department maintains staffing from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays with on-call coverage afterward. Officials encourage residents to report suspected water main issues early, noting that prompt response improves repair outcomes. Winter repairs receive temporary road patches, with permanent restoration completed during spring season.