Bracing for a Winter Wallop

On the heels of marking the 32^nd anniversary of the historic 1994 blizzard, we and much of the country are preparing for a potentially catastrophic winter storm with dangerous wind chills. Louisville Water flushed out plans to help keep Louisville Pure Tap® flowing at your home.

“We’re making sure we have plenty of crews staffed throughout the weekend to respond to water main breaks. We’ve adjusted other employees’ shifts to work around the anticipated arrival of the winter storm. We also have our own salt trucks to keep the roads safe where our crews are working as well as our own property to protect employees coming in and out,” shared Joe Schmitt, director of distribution operations.

On Friday, crews worked feverishly to repair any pipes ahead of the weekend.

“All the crews today have two main breaks, so we gotta get those done. That way the guys in the yard (distribution facility) that are taking those callouts this weekend, they don’t have to go out unless it’s an emergency. We always try to keep our customers in water,” said Heavy Equipment Operator Travis Downing.

This typical winter day is the calm before the storm. Downing knows firsthand how quickly the weather can escalate. Last January, he got caught in the first winter storm that hammered the city.

“Last year, when we pulled up to that job and it was a main break, there wasn’t even snow on the ground yet. When we were leaving, it was like, ‘oh my goodness’; there was already five inches, six inches of snow that fell. It was an experience for me,” he shared.

For this arctic blast, we’re hoping for the best-case scenario while preparing for the worst.

“We want to complete as many of our work tickets as possible before the snow and ice arrive, so we have a more manageable load over the next few days,” Schmitt said. “The priority this weekend will be those situations where the water is turned off and of course, we’ll work as quickly as possible to restore service to customers.”

Inside the control room at the Crescent Hill Water Treatment Plant, operators are closely monitoring tank levels, water temperature, and water pressure. A sudden drop in pressure could indicate a water main break.

“We monitor where tank levels are at and if one is dropping, then why? Is there a loss of pressure and is that from a pump station pulling water out? Basically, is it system demand or is it something else causing a drop in pressure alarming enough that we need to call the radio room to have them get (emergency) turners to go out to try to find and isolate the leak?” explained Lead Operator Matt Conway.

Crews working outside to fix those pipes take all the precautions they can, knowing the nature of the job.

“You work for the water company. It’s in the name, water. You’re gonna get wet. You gotta learn how to deal with it. When I was a helper (plumber leader’s assistant), I always made sure I brought extra clothes. First thing you can do when you’re wet is get out of wet clothes. That’s the safest thing you can do,” Downing said.

We ask for your patience and understanding as we all wait to see the impact of this storm. We know many of you plan to stay safe and hunkered down inside your home. Here are some things you can do to protect your pipes.

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