Frigid temperatures rupturing water mains and flooding streets in Detroit | FOX 2 Detroit
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Frigid temperatures rupturing water mains and flooding streets in Detroit

By and Jack Nissen
Published  January 22, 2025 5:19pm EST
Infrastructure
FOX 2 Detroit

Freezing temperatures causing water main breaks in Detroit

The frigid temperatures are causing other issues around the city, and not just because of how hazardous the cold weather is. Detroit's aging infrastructure is cracking due to the extreme cold.

The Brief

    • Water main breaks reported around Detroit are tied to the freezing temperatures, exasperated by aging infrastructure
    • While crews are working to remove and replace broken mains, it can be tough work just getting through the ice
    • The deputy director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department said keeping water running in one's house is a good way to keep pipes from freezing

DETROIT (FOX 2) - The frigid temperatures brought another problem to Detroit besides hazardous conditions outside: broken water mains and flooded streets.

Nature can make it tough on aging infrastructure, of which Detroit has a lot of. That's why crews with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department were hard at work removing and replacing broken mains on Wednesday.

Big picture view:

On Wednesday, crews with Detroit's water department were out in force, removing broken pipes and replacing them with new infrastructure better suited for the elements like the temperatures currently freezing Michigan.

Sidewalks near Cathedral and Rosemont in Detroit were just some of the streets with flooding due to broken water mains caused by the low temperatures. 

It's a common sight when temperatures drop below freezing. As water freezes inside old cast iron pipes, it can crack and cause ruptures that eventually pour out into the street.

And while crews fix the broken pipes, they also took refuge to avoid frost bite, a constant battle during the coldest months.

Dig deeper:

The city's sewer system is fed by the Detroit River, which is connected to multiple treatment plants around the region.

Once the river reaches about 36 degrees, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department says it starts to see an increase in water main breaks. And as the deputy director of DWSD notes, repairs aren't just about replacing the old pipes.

"Likely, there's ice and snow already there so we have to get through the ice and snow before we can get to the repair," said Sam Smalley,

Warmer weather this weekend could provide some reprieve from more breaks.

What you can do:

Even water lines feeding into homes can freeze when the temperatures get this cold.

Smalley suggests keeping the water flowing continuously to prevent more breakages.

"Even if it’s just a drip, drip, drip," he said.

The Source

  • Information from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department was used for this story.

InfrastructureDetroitWinter Weather