SALISBURY TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Crews in Lehigh County are working Thursday night to repair a water main break along South Fairview Road in Salisbury Township.
Drivers are being asked to avoid the area, and nearby residents may see temporary water service interruptions.
Officials say this is the latest in a string of breaks tied to this winter’s extreme cold.
Thursday evening’s water main break is one of many incidents seen recently in the Lehigh Valley. Crews were also called out Thursday morning to a break in Whitehall Township.
It follows yet another break earlier this week in Allentown along Green Street, affecting a four block area, and an emergency valve repair at South Albert and East Wallis Street.
“It actually is a little unusual. Our team has constantly been telling us that this is one of the toughest winters as far as main breaks go,” Taylor Stakes with the Lehigh County Water Authority says.
Officials say these are part of a string of breaks across the Valley.
“For our crews, it’s not overwhelming. We have the staff to fix the main breaks. I think the thing that becomes overwhelming is when it’s confronted by the cold temperatures,” Stakes says. “Last week when we were at minus five, there was a main break, and that can be a little bit challenging for the crew.”
Water officials say this winter has been especially difficult due to prolonged cold temperatures and repeated freeze-thaw cycles that shift pipes.
“Unfortunately, with the main breaks that we’re dealing with in this cold season, it’s really doesn’t necessarily have to do with the age of the pipe. Sometimes it can be a brand new pipe and the ground just kind of shifts and causes the pipe to break or the valve to break,” Stakes says.
With temperatures expected to fluctuate in the coming weeks, crews say the busy season isn’t over yet.
“We’re going to see a lot more main breaks as things start to thaw,” Stakes added. “If they see water in the street that isn’t snow melt, might look abnormal, there’s some bubbling going on, definitely give us or their water utility a call because most likely is something that shouldn’t be there.”