The low temperatures in Mississippi have led to many plumbing emergencies throughout the region. Multiple burst pipes have been reported leading to leakage and wastage of millions of gallons of water.
In Jackson, Mississippi, residents faced multiple plumbing problems over Christmas. They had to boil water themselves due to lost and interrupted service. Nearby places like Selma, Ala, and Shreveport, La., suffered a similar fate and are still not getting the normal water supply. As a result, there is an emergency water crisis. People are bombarding 911 with calls about broken pipes and complaints about the water crisis.
The situation warrants immediate attention as it could wreak havoc if the broken pipes aren’t located and fixed. Furthermore, the plumbers will have to shut off the water supply, causing distress and a water crisis in the state.
The core issue is that below freezing temperatures are leading to frozen and bursting pipes. Since the water flowing through the pipes freezes, it expands, causing the pipes to expand and ultimately burst under pressure. As the temperature shifts, the water unfreezes and starts leaking from the pipes. The little bits of leakage become large-scale and result in thousands of gallons of water wastage and damage to the structures.
Especially since it’s the holidays, most buildings are closed. The water is not running through the pipes and is stagnant. Stagnant water freezes easily, causing trouble. Moreover, since the building is empty, the leaks go undetected and can become a full-on emergency when the offices reopen.
Over 50 million gallons of water leaked out, and over 400 customers reported the leaks. But the actual numbers are greater. Since it’s the holidays and most buildings are closed, some of the trouble still needs to be detected and reported.
Moreover, many people have also vacated their homes due to vacations, so as per the experts, the number of leaky pipes has gone up to thousands in the region. Previously in August, the region suffered a similar fate when over 150,000 people faced a water crisis due to flooding in the two water treatment plants.
According to the Jackson Officials:
“We continue to struggle to return pressure to the water system. We are producing significant amounts of water and pushing that into the system, but the pressure is not increasing — despite those efforts at the plants. The issue has to be significant leaks in the system that we have yet to identify..”
The broken pipes also affect the buildings by causing leaks in certain places. For example, the Harvest Hope Food Bank in Greenville opened the offices to an indoor flooded situation. Water was still being sprayed inside due to the leaky pipes. So, unfortunately, they had to turn away many people. That also led to a power outage posing a threat to the food and freezers for storing the food.
According to the Red Cross guidelines, here’s how you can prevent the pipes from freezing and leading to all the trouble that comes with it.
Here are a few tips and tricks to thaw out frozen pipes:
Add Insulation
As per Consumer Reports, the temperature alert threshold is 20 degrees Fahrenheit for all uninsulated pipes. Add insulation in your basements and other spaces to maintain appropriate temperatures. You may opt for fiberglass or foam installation to keep your pipes insulated. If these are not a viable option, use newspapers to cover the pipes temporarily during the winters. Remember that well-insulated homes contain heat more efficiently. While they may require an upfront cost, they will save you from costly repairs and plumbing work.
Insulate your pipes today with City of Seven Hills Plumbing Experts!