Water Pipes Crisis: How Breaks and Cracks Happen

If you’ve been keeping up with the news lately, you might have seen what has been happening within the majority of Texas. The early February snowstorm wreaked havoc on the eastern-most part of Texas, causing pipes to burst, ultimately affecting the water flow to people’s homes. Unfortunately, things have to get worse before they can get better. 

As the pipes thaw out, repairs can then be applied. As the state continues to ride out the storm, people are wondering how exactly these pipes break and how they impede the water flow. We look at how these systems work and what water pipes are most vulnerable to. 

Why do water mains break?

Breakage in pipes and systems can be due to a number of things. Sometimes pipes, especially with the systems we have in Texas, are not designed to withstand such extreme measures. We feel that we owe it to our customers to explain why their pipes might not be working. In addition to weather, many other factors can come into play. 

Pressure 

This is one of the most common causes of water pipe breakage, especially with what Texas is experiencing right now. Pressure can change due to temperature. This can often be referred to as thermal expansion. Pipes need to be at just the right temperature in order for them to operate flawlessly. Pipes will expand when frozen. They’ll loosen and contract with extreme heat. These can both cause a rupture and halt the flow of water. This can also happen when fire hydrants are being used and the water comes out too fast for pipes to withstand. 

Excavation Work 

It can be tricky when it comes to earthwork. Construction workers are highly advised to be as careful as possible when working with the land that way they don’t burst any pipes. But when it does happen, contractors are often using digging equipment that comes into contact with the pipes. This can even happen with a hit from a shovel, but oftentimes, it is due to large excavation equipment. 

Age of the Pipes and Materials 

Like with any kind of system, age and the quality of work can interfere with water flow in water pipes. With that being said, older pipes are susceptible to breakage and cracks. Most water systems that were built and installed before the 1980s were made out of cast iron, but the downside to this material is that it does not easily withstand changes or pressure. There are even older pipes, some of which are historical artifacts, that are made out of even more susceptible materials such as clay. Oftentimes, this is not the case for newer pipelines, which are made out of ductile iron or plastic pipes. 

Grounding and Changes in Land

There’s no stopping mother earth. In all of her natural ways, the changes within the ground and layers in the earth can play a major role in how the pipes are affected. Many factors come into play such as soil, the absorbency of the soil, moisture, and the weight of the ground. The more soil and water that comes in, the more stress that is placed on top of the pipes. Like any other kind of system, pipes can only withstand so much. The more that the ground weighs down or shifts, the more prone pipes are to breakage. 

Interference with Soils 

Not only can soils weigh down on pipes and induce bursts, but the makeup of the soil can interfere with the flow of the water pipes as well. Some soils have corrosive material in them, such as the nutrients they absorb. Once these corrosive soils settle on the pipes, the risk for bursts immediately speaks. Sometimes these corrosive materials are so strong that they will start to break down the material that the pipes are made out of. 

What To Do When Pipes Break 

With what the entire state of Texas is facing, repairs and replacements are going to take quite a bit of time. Some contractors are trying to take up other methods of repairing these pipes, such as non-destructive testing and trenchless technology that is designed to attend to broken pipes without interfering with the rest of the ground that surrounds them. 

El Paso Trenchless Solutions: Providing El Paso with Immediate Solutions 

El Paso Trenchless Solutions wants nothing but to help our customers and ensure they are receiving the water they need. Whatever your problems may entail, you can contact us. Learn more about how our services can assist you.