Public works departments aren’t getting a break this winter, as freezing weather creates water line breaks. Freezing and thawing soil creates movement in the ground that can bend or shift water mains.
The Town of Newfane repaired a water main break in Burt this week and turned its attention Wednesday to a leak on William Street.
I would think that it is the aging infrastructure,” said John Syracuse, Newfane’s superintendent. “These aren’t one-offs. We do see these, especially with the change of the weather.”
Newfane installed a new texting system that Syracuse said can target communication to residents on the impacted street.
Syracuse said that town employees actively look for water line leaks when they are out maintaining roads and other infrastructure.
“As we buy water from Niagara County, if there is a water loss, we pay for it,” he said. “So we’re always trying to improve.”
Syracuse said Newfane was waiting on funding for water projects on Jackson Street and West Lake Road.
Keith Hurtgam, highway superintendent for the Town of Hartland, said the town recently repaired leaks in the Hartland Road water main and on Checkered Tavern Road near Bishop Road. He said pipe leaks were caused more by weather than age.
“Ours aren’t that old,” he said. “Our system started in ‘69 and finished in ‘90.”
Hurtgam said keeping things running keeps town workers running.
“Sometimes it puts us in a real strain. The guy that plows snow, fixes the leaks.”