IRONWOOD, MI - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - City water crews have been working non-stop since Monday morning thawing frozen water lines. Eight frozen water and four leak complaints awaited City Utilities Manager Bob Tervonen when he returned to work after the weekend. Four of the homes were left without water due to a frozen main, but the others were frozen supplies to the individual residences. Tervonen explained that houses at the end of a main often have problems with freeze ups due to the fact that the water doesn't have any place to circulate.

Trained water department workers use a welder to thaw the frozen water lines. First, the crews must make certain that there are no grounding straps attached to the house's water supply. In older homes it was a common practice to ground electrical outlets and entire electrical systems to water lines. This, of course, is no long an acceptable practice.

Once the system is inspected and it is determined that no water pipe grounding is present, then the water meter must be removed. One end of the welder is attached to the house's main water supply. The other end of the welder is attached to the nearest hydrant, main valve, service valve, or adjacent house. The idea is to complete an electrical circuit. The shorter electrical loop the better. When the welder is energized water department crew members stand by, making sure that stray current doesn't back feed to house's electrical system. They must also make certain that current doesn't back feed to neighboring houses. At all times, crew members must monitor the situation to prevent electrical hazards. If back feed occurs at a neighboring house, the water meter and any grounds on that house must be removed, and plastic bypass fittings must be installed to prevent the flow of electricity. Water crews keep in constant two-way radio communication with one another to insure safety.

Using a welder is not recommended to thaw water lines. City crews have been specially trained to minimize the risks, however. This is something the average homeowner should never attempt to do on his own.

Generally, if the freeze occurs on the City's side of the line the water department will thaw the line at no charge to the customer.

Once a freeze up happens at a house, the water department advises the homeowner to allow a steady stream of water to flow (the width of a pencil) at all times. They are told to allow the water to run until they are notified in the spring to shut it off. This is to prevent additional freeze ups. Generally, if a line freezes once, it is going to freeze again! Too many times, as weather warms up, homeowners assume that it is safe to turn the water stream off. What they don't take into account is that air temperature and ground temperature are two very different things. The air may feel warm, but the ground is still frozen below. If a homeowner shuts the water flow off on his own and his supply freezes, he must then hire a private contractor to thaw his lines. City policy does not allow department crews to return, without charge, if the homeowner didn't follow instructions.

Bob Tervonen told the Chronicle that customers that have been authorized to run a stream to prevent freeze ups will not be billed for the additional water usage.

Ideally, new water lines will buried at least six feet deep to prevent freeze ups. Tervonen said that blueboard insulation is often added in new construction as further protection.

SIGNS THAT YOUR WATER LINES MAY BE FREEZING:

(1) discolored water

(2) reduced water flow

(3) colder than normal tap water

When a water line freezes, the problem should be addressed immediately to prevent damages such as split pipes or to prevent other houses from freezes. Water repairs are much more costly in the winter than the summer due to frozen ground conditions.

If water to your house becomes frozen, immediately contact Bob Tervonen at the Memorial Building (906) 932-5050.

Jim Albert