The City of Wrenford is updating its response times for water main breaks to account for harsh winter conditions and snow-clearing schedules. Starting immediately, emergency repair crews will operate on an expanded winter schedule, with a target completion time of 24 hours for critical service interruptions.
Water main breaks are more common in the cold months because freezing ground and heavy snow cover can stress underground pipes. When a break occurs, the City must also coordinate with Roads & Winter Maintenance to ensure repair crews can safely access the site without conflicting with plow routes. To make this process faster, the City has added dedicated winter standby shifts and upgraded its communication tools so field crews get location details the moment a break is reported.
What this means for you:
- Report any water main break immediately using the online form at Report a water main break or by calling 311.
- Do not drive over frozen water on the road. Ice buildup near a break can hide potholes and create slippery conditions for drivers and pedestrians.
- If you lose water service, boil all drinking and cooking water for at least one minute until the City confirms the water is safe. Check Service Alerts for updates and boil water notices.
- If your street is closed for repairs, follow detour signs and keep clear of work zones. You can view current snow route parking bans and winter maintenance schedules on the Roads & Winter Maintenance page.
“We know that a water outage in January is the last thing anyone wants,” says Patrick Nguyen, Water Operations Manager. “By aligning our repair crews with the snow-clearing schedule and keeping a smaller team on call overnight, we can get your water back on faster and keep our streets safer.”
The City will continue to monitor weather forecasts and adjust crew rotations as needed throughout the season. Residents who rely on medical equipment that require continuous water pressure should contact the City directly so we can prioritize their service restoration.
For more information on how the City manages water infrastructure during extreme cold, visit the Roads & Winter Maintenance section.