CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Charlotte Water crews responded to several water main breaks across the city during a week of below-average temperatures.
Drivers navigated icy roadways around N. Hoskins Rd and Tennessee Ave. Friday morning, while traffic slowed for a multi-day road closure on Providence Rd. and Fairview Rd.
Some neighbors said they were shocked to see the amount of water coming up from the street.
“Just the water flowing down Providence Road like a river,” said Chris Blair.
Residents in the nearby Providence Row Apartments said they experienced a water outage for more than 12 hours.
“I literally had to go across the street to the gas station to get a water bottle, but I’m thinking, ‘if people are in this plaza with babies, kids, anything, that’s a big problem to go without,’” said Mikayla Blaha. “I was definitely taken by surprise.”
Charlotte Water officials said in a statement they are constantly working on the nearly 4,500 miles of drinking water pipes below the city’s surface.
“Charlotte Water prioritizes leaks so that crews repair emergency leaks first. During a repair, crews investigate the break, locate the other utilities underground nearby, isolate the break, excavate and uncover the broken section of pipe, and restore water service. The roads may be closed for some time after water service is restored as crews work to repave the impacted area. Crews attempt to repair leaks without a water outage when possible and if there is time will work on solutions to minimize the outage.”
City engineers are trying to shore up the aging infrastructure. For nearly the past ten years, Charlotte Water has been working on the Water Transmission Mains Improvement and Repairs Program.
It’s a multi-phase, $25 million project to fix areas in highest need of pipe replacement or repairs.
Crews are in the design and planning stage of the northeast Water Main Replacement Project, aimed at fixing pipes in 12 neighborhoods on the Northeast side of the city.
Customers said they understand construction work can be tedious, but they hope to see more progress before next winter.
“This is my first winter here in North Carolina, so learning the ropes and everything, I didn’t really know this is what I was walking into,” Blaha said. “I’m from Connecticut and we’ve got it a little more figured out because we’re from the cold. I’m definitely hoping this gets resolved.”
