Regina sees high number of water main breaks in September

September is often the busiest month for water main breaks in Regina, and that’s holding true once again in 2018.

As of Sept. 11, the City of Regina has repaired 27 water main breaks. Pat Wilson, director of waterworks with the City of Regina, said that is still a high number but is lower than last year’s number of 54.

“These are still high numbers so last year was unprecedented, we’ve never seen numbers like that before and I hope that we never see them again,” Wilson said.

While there were more issues in September last year, so far this year as a whole has seen more breaks due to many breaking over the winter months. In 2018 so far, there has been 231 breaks compared to 213 in 2017.

Currently, there are 55 leaks running in Regina, but not all of those are water main breaks.

“It could be a valve problem or it could be a connection that has a leak as well.”

Wilson said water main breaks happen throughout the city, but said areas around the Ring Road and older areas in the city are more likely to spring a leak.

“We have more concrete pipe in some of the older areas or cast-iron, and that is pipe that is more likely to have a leak. It’s just a little bit less resilient in our soils. When they shift those pipes will snap.”

The end of September and into October often shows a slowdown when it comes to water main breaks.