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Cold temperatures combined with a lack of a significant snow base could create problems for many property owners in Ely.
Conditions may be ripe for water lines to freeze in town, particularly those that have a history of winter freeze-ups.
“I want to let residents know that the frost is driving down and this may be one of those winters where we get lots of frost and the water service is prone to freezing,” said Harold Langowski, the city’s clerk-treasurer and operations director.
City crews wrestled with a couple of water service leaks this week, including one that impacted part of the downtown business district.
Concerns are growing at City Hall that this might be a year when city crews are forced to work feverishly to restore frozen water lines.
“It’s a reminder that unless we get more snow cover and if temperatures remain this cold, lines will freeze,” said Langowski. “Typically it’s in the first week of February when we really start seeing frozen water services.”
As they’ve done previously when weather has made it conducive for freeze-ups, city officials are urging residents to take precautions.
Most notable is the practice of running a stream of water, the size of a pencil lead, from a faucet.
“It may be one of those winters so if your water service has frozen in the past you may want to start taking the temperature of your water and if it’s 41 degrees and dropping you will have to start trickling your water to keep it from freezing. It should be the size of a pencil lead, not a pencil. Typically a little bit of movement keeps it from freezing. If you’re house has had issues you may want to consider trickling your water.”
Frozen water lines are also an expensive proposition, with the Ely Utilities Commission offering to thaw private waterlines as time is available.
The minimum charge is $100, with each additional hour or portion of any hour assessed at another $100.
Residents are also charged for overtime if a call-out is made outside of normal working hours, with a two-hour minimum overtime charge.
Preventive measures also come with a price of increased costs for water service, and Langowski, responding to a question posed by council member Jerome Debeltz, said the city may not offer relief.
“Water service is the responsibility of the property owner,” said Langowski.
City crews repaired a water line Tuesday on the 100 block of East Pattison Street, in the alley between Pattison and James streets.
“What we repaired today was about four feet deep in an area that was developed about 100 years ago,” said Langowski.
Water service was also out Monday on the 100 block of East Sheridan Street, in the alley between the Frandsen Building and the former James Drug, now home to Potluck. Repairs prompted water service to be shut off temporarily at businesses including Ely Family Dental.
