SAN ANGELO, Texas — When water main pipes were installed in the City of San Angelo decades ago, construction regulations were far less strict and pipe technology was far less advanced. Unfortunately, that mixture of fewer regulations, inferior technology, and now, aged pipes, has led to many water main breaks in the Concho Valley.
"Water main breaks for older towns is not that uncommon. If you're in an older part of town and the water mains were installed 60 years ago with inferior material than currently used, then you're more likely to have a water main break," said Andy Vecellio, the assistant director of water utilities for the city.
Although the city was unable to provide statistics for how many water main breaks occur within the city yearly, if you live in or near the area, you know it occurs quite often. However, San Angelo is not alone. According to a study done by Utah State University, 45% of cities in the U.S. and Canada experience more than 50 breaks annually. In addition, break rates have increased by 27% between 2012 and 2018.
"If things are old - depending on the pipe material, especially - things just deteriorate," said Vecellio.
The City of San Angelo's 2020-2025 Capital Improvement Plan draft includes water main replacements, with a goal of replacing approximately 15,000 feet of mains each year. If solidified, the five-year water main project would cost nearly 130 million dollars.
"Replacing older infrastructure in an urban environment can be quite pricey, but obviously a more reliable water service is a benefit that in the long term pays off," Vecellio said.
Another thing that affects water main pipes is soil condition. When there are significant changes in weather - like experiencing multiple days of rain right after a drought - the soil is more likely to expand or contract, leaving the pipes vulnerable to break, according to Vecellio.