CARSTAIRS-CREMONA-DIDSBURY -- Public works crews in communities around Mountain View County have been busy dealing with waterline breaks likely due to the extreme cold temperatures throughout February.
Didsbury public works staff estimate that this year's winter was the worst in the last 10 years.
"In conversation with other communities there have been a lot of water breaks and frozen utility lines in this region," said Greg Skotheim, manager of public works for the Town of Didsbury.
Crews were busy last week dealing with a significant water break in the Westhill Crescent area.
"The break happened early afternoon on March 18 and the water had to be shut off around 9:30 p.m.," said Skotheim. "A decision was made to shut off the water due to very low reservior levels. Water wasn't restored to those affected residents until March 19 around 5:30 p.m."
Crews finished work on the Westhill water break on March 21.
The week before Didsbury crews dealt with a water main break in Southridge Crescent, which flooded the area.
"The water main break in Southridge was caused from the service saddle coming off," said Skotheim. "This is the location where your home service ties into the top of the main."
In Carstairs there have been two water breaks so far, said CAO Carl McDonnell.
"They were both valves that leaked," said McDonnell. "They were fixed within 24 hours of being discovered and the cost to repair was about $15,000."
Cremona sustained three separate water main breaks within a three-day span in late January and early February, said interim CAO Shannon Allison.
"The cost to repair each was around $20,000 and they were fixed within a couple of days," said Allison.
