
More than likely you have had a brush – or worse – with the prospect of frozen pipes in a residential setting. Just ask the President of Wooten Technologies: several years ago, an uninsulated pipe near the roofline caused extensive damage to his upstairs bathroom and kitchen below. But the risk of problems on private property is far from the only concern.
When overnight lows dip into single digits and teens for one or more days, those responsible for vital water and wastewater systems have plenty to prepare for:
Breaches of water distribution or sewer collection lines can cause disruptions with widespread impact.
Cold temperatures and freezing precipitation could affect operations with electronics and controls.
Treatment units at facilities may require more energy to prevent freezing and stay up and running.
Older or poorly insulated outdoor infrastructure is particularly vulnerable to damage from freezing temperatures.
Dangerous roadway conditions can more broadly limit the ability of operations and maintenance staff to access facilities.
Public works officials do their best to communicate proactively with ratepayers about potential disruptions and measures they can take to help minimize impacts.
“Weather effects on water and wastewater system operations are fairly predictable here in the southeast region because of the nearly sub-tropical climate," says Clint Mack, Manager for the Town of Robbins in Moore County. "However, when we occasionally get subfreezing weather, all bets are off. You can count on any of your system’s vulnerabilities to be exploited."
He goes on to say that it's critical to address as much preventive maintenance and preparation as possible.
"On the town’s side, we try to ensure our wastewater plant has adequate chemicals plus a reserve supply to sustain operations in case the road conditions prevent scheduled deliveries," Mack explains. "All of our critical infrastructure components from pump stations, control booths, SCADA boxes, and chlorine booster stations are inspected for a reliable heat source to prevent freezing plus proper water proofing to prevent damage after the ice melts."
In summary, he stresses that it's most important for public works teams to remain flexible and resilient throughout weather events.
"You can't prevent everything that will happen, but hard work and preparation will pay dividends to the end user by maintaining services or reducing repair times to a minimum when breakages do occur.”
One way water and wastewater utility managers can stay ahead of the stormfront of inclement weather is through a digital asset management platform such as INFRAFORCE. Having the age, condition, and vulnerability of all system components stored in the cloud enhances resiliency in the face of adversity.
As it applies to wintry weather, it goes without saying to stay off the roads as you can. And remember to drip a faucet to protect your pipes from causing any unwelcome surprises.
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