Memphis residents endure day 4 of water problems as freezing weather bursts pipes across the South

[JacksinPA]

Memphis residents endure day 4 of water problems as freezing weather bursts pipes across the South

More than 600,000 people served by the Memphis, Tennessee, water utility are on their fourth day of boiling water for drinking, brushing teeth and preparing food.

apnews.com

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis residents spent their fourth day boiling water for drinking, brushing their teeth and preparing food on Monday as repair crews worked to fix broken pipes in hopes of easing the stress caused by a week of sub-freezing temperatures, snow and ice in this southern city.

The city’s water company issued a boil water notice on Friday to the more than 600,000 people it serves because low pressure in the system and breaks in water mains could allow harmful bacteria to contaminate the water supply.

“It’s frustrating for us homeowners, especially old folks, to have to deal with the snow and the water problem,” said 81-year-old William Wilkerson, who lost all water service between Thursday and Sunday.

Memphis was the largest, but not the only, water system in Tennessee to experience problems from the unusually cold weather that has caused dozens of deaths around the U.S. this month, many involving hypothermia or road accidents. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said on Sunday night that 28 water systems were under boil water notices and 17 counties were reporting operational issues with their water utilities.
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They're not used to this way down south in Dixie.

 

[Pyrite]

Memphis residents endure day 4 of water problems as freezing weather bursts pipes across the South

More than 600,000 people served by the Memphis, Tennessee, water utility are on their fourth day of boiling water for drinking, brushing teeth and preparing food.

apnews.com

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis residents spent their fourth day boiling water for drinking, brushing their teeth and preparing food on Monday as repair crews worked to fix broken pipes in hopes of easing the stress caused by a week of sub-freezing temperatures, snow and ice in this southern city.

The city’s water company issued a boil water notice on Friday to the more than 600,000 people it serves because low pressure in the system and breaks in water mains could allow harmful bacteria to contaminate the water supply.

“It’s frustrating for us homeowners, especially old folks, to have to deal with the snow and the water problem,” said 81-year-old William Wilkerson, who lost all water service between Thursday and Sunday.

Memphis was the largest, but not the only, water system in Tennessee to experience problems from the unusually cold weather that has caused dozens of deaths around the U.S. this month, many involving hypothermia or road accidents. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said on Sunday night that 28 water systems were under boil water notices and 17 counties were reporting operational issues with their water utilities.
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They're not used to this way down south in Dixie.

We haven't been used to it up here in central-south-west Ohio. It seems as if it's been a long time since we've had such cold weather.

 

[Napoleon]

We haven't been used to it up here in central-south-west Ohio. It seems as if it's been a long time since we've had such cold weather.

What? This has been a mild winter so far for Ohio.

 

[HIP56948]

A question. Couldn't the powers that be, let and ask the people to turn their water on a little bit, so the pipes wouldn't burst.
They could have had a media talk about why and also, be sure that water charges are free until necessary.
Seems like it would be cheaper to run the water a small bit rather than dig up the pipes?

 

[Integrityrespec]

A lot of the infrastructure in Memphis is old and I'm sure needs an update. Then again the arctic blast that hit across the south was an unusual thing.

 

[hecatmoggie]

global warming

 

[RF667799]

A question. Couldn't the powers that be, let and ask the people to turn their water on a little bit, so the pipes wouldn't burst.
They could have had a media talk about why and also, be sure that water charges are free until necessary.
Seems like it would be cheaper to run the water a small bit rather than dig up the pipes?

I believe the broken pipes they are talking about are the water mains. Those will often break from the ground movement in a freeze/thaw cycle. A boil order can be called for after a repair on a water main break, if the repair isn't able to be done under pressure.

 

[JacksinPA]

We haven't been used to it up here in central-south-west Ohio. It seems as if it's been a long time since we've had such cold weather.

In your part of OH I've been several times to the former annual amateur radio 'hamvention' in Dayton. That destination got pulled when a tornado damaged the big building where the commercial vendors set up their tables. So after some brilliant thinking they moved this affair to Xenia. I recently saw a TV documentary of the twisters that nearly wiped that town off the map. Hope you have a basement or secure shelter.

 

[dseag2]

I'm so sorry to hear this. The past few weeks have been brutal for many parts of the country. We spent about a week with temps under freezing but I'll gladly deal with it when I see what is happening to the rest of the country. They probably won't have to deal with our extreme heat in the summer but I have no less compassion for them dealing with brutal winter weather. The weather extremes these days are mind-boggling.