Saskatchewan’s two main cities are reporting fewer water essential breaks in January than in earlier years, as a mid-winter warmup is underway.
In Saskatoon, there have been 13 water essential breaks throughout the town in January — 10 fewer than throughout the identical month in 2025.
Metropolis officers report that that is additionally lower than half the 25-year common for water essential breaks, which at present stands at 28 incidents. It’s also considerably decrease than the five-year common, additionally at 28, and the three-year common at 27 incidents.
Regina is reporting related numbers, with there being solely 11 water essential breaks final month in comparison with 24 a 12 months in the past.
Each cities owe this lower in water essential breaks to preventative measures and upkeep by the town.
“We’re doing leak detection on pipes, we’re doing situation evaluation of water mains, we’re taking a look at historic break patterns, and we’re entering into and doing upkeep like lining the pipes,” stated Russ Munro, director of water on the Metropolis of Saskatoon.
Munro provides that the town can also be changing pipes which might be both in poor situation or have skilled breaks.
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In Regina, this downward development has been observed since 2018.
“We’ve positively seen a little bit of a lower in water essential breaks within the metropolis, and it’s because of our main funding in our underground infrastructure since then,” stated Jay Overend, water operations supervisor on the Metropolis of Regina.
Temperature fluctuations sometimes trigger water essential breaks, as beforehand frozen and expanded floor contracts when temperatures heat, resulting in motion and shifts within the floor, stated Munro.
“When the Earth strikes, it wins, and the mains don’t,” stated Munro, including that an inflow of water essential breakages across the finish of January and starting of February is typical due to the change in temperatures.
“When we now have no snow on the bottom, after which we get that sudden deep chilly freeze, that’s the place we get quite a lot of frost penetration into the bottom. We’re extra prone to see water essential breaks,” he stated.
An added issue contributing to water essential breaks in Regina is the soil on which the town is constructed, in line with Overend.
“Simply as a result of clay soils that we now have right here in Regina, the acute fluctuations in temperature, sometimes, we do see a bit little bit of a rise in breaks from the bottom shifting,” he stated.
The hotter temperatures are additionally wreaking havoc on houses, as damaged pipes thaw and grow to be obvious.
“The leaks present up fairly shortly. It’s often a moist spot within the ceiling or water spraying on the ground someplace or an absence of water stress in the home,” stated Michael Bacon, proprietor of Motion Plumbing and Heating Ltd., a neighborhood plumbing enterprise in Saskatoon.
As for any damages sustained by houses because of thawing, corresponding to leaks or water essential breaks, Saskatchewan Authorities Insurance coverage (SGI) says most insurance coverage insurance policies will present some protection.
“They are going to be wanting on the injury that was precipitated because of the water essential break. Most insurance policies won’t reply to fixing the pipe,” stated Bruce Chupa, SGI director of property claims.
Each Saskatoon and Regina advise residents to report any water essential breaks to the town so crews may be despatched to the scene.
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