The city of Waupaca is urging all water customers to start running a stream of water immediately to prevent frozen private water lines.
The stream of water running from one faucet should be approximately the thickness of a pencil, about one-quarter inch in diameter.
Those residents who have already experienced a freeze up that were asked to run a stream of water should continue to run their faucets as well.
The water needs to be left running constantly. Do not shut off the faucet when the temperatures warm up during the day. The city will inform residents when the flow of water can be safely shut off.
Warmer outdoor air temperatures may actually add to the depth of frost.
Utility bills will be adjusted to take into consideration the extra water /sewer usage and customers will not be charged for that extra usage.
The city will inform customers when they can stop running the water, however this may be well into the month of March.
Residents who do not fully comply with this notice will be charged the cost of any needed thawing or repairing of their water lateral by city crews.
The city of Waupaca, along with many other Wisconsin communities, is experiencing water and sanitary sewer lateral freeze ups throughout the city. It has been 20 years since the city has experienced this severe of a winter along with the associated utility problems.
This means residents can expect frozen water pipes and water damage if exposed areas are not properly insulated, private water and sewer laterals are too shallow or they are not careful about winter heating.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2014 the City Water Department notified over 25 residents that in previous years had experienced frozen water laterals to begin running a trickle of water in one faucet at their house. The city over the past two weeks has also been responding to numerous frozen water service complaints daily throughout the city.