![]() ![]() “Every water main break and repair is distinct, and repairs can take anywhere from hours to 6 months or more depending on the situation,” he said. How long does it take to fix a water main break? Rademaekers declined to give an average, and said it depends on the situation. He credited it to the city getting an early start on replacement, with the effort beginning some 30 years ago. In 2020, the city’s number of breaks per mile of water mains fell below the national average, Rademaekers said. The water department says Philly isn’t alone in these problems. Water main breaks are anything but rare in Philly, with what averages out to around two per day for the last decade and a half. 42 - target number of miles of water mains to be replaced annually by fiscal year 2026.19 - miles of water mains replaced every year, on average (since 1997). ![]() 3 years - time it takes the PWD leak detection program to survey the entire 3,100-mile system.1,033 - miles of water mains checked for leaks per year, approximately.75.64 years - average age of a water main in the PWD system, as of January 2022.3,100 - miles of water mains managed by PWD, as of the last fiscal year.Some more stats describing the city’s old and lengthy network: Now, the department is looking to gradually increase its goal - set at 34 miles of mains in fiscal year 2020 - by 2 miles each year until 2026. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted its progress, according to Rademaekers, leading to a “significant decrease” in miles replaced in the 2021 fiscal year. On average, the department has replaced 19 miles of water mains per year over the past 25 years, and it budgeted $78 million in the 2020 fiscal year to speed up its replacement program. “The Water Department closely monitors water main conditions to determine that adequate capital investment is made, to predict long-term water main replacement needs and refine the criteria for replacement selection,” Rademaekers said. They get weaker over time from internal or external corrosion, which can be caused by temperature changes, underground work, or traffic loading. Whatever material they’re made from, water mains don’t last forever. According to PWD’s website, the city’s last wooden mains were taken out of service in 1858. ![]() Once upon a time, Philadelphia was outfitted with wooden water mains, but the city started laying only cast iron pipes in 1832. Most of the stats below are according to department spokesperson Rademaekers, who noted some are estimates. Here’s a look at how it all works, along with some things you can do to help keep it running smoothly. There are tens of thousands of hydrants, and 3,100 miles of water mains, which can rack up $275,000 in repair costs annually. And last summer, a water main installed before 1900 broke in Queen Village, flooding homes and businesses at 6th and Bainbridge and causing damage to streets, sidewalks, and basements that’s still being repaired six months later.Ībout half of Philadelphia’s water supply comes from the Delaware, and the other half from the Schuylkill. The break affected dozens of businesses, and it took almost a year to reopen several blocks of Sansom Street. ![]() Problems can come with devastating consequences for residents and businesses.Ī Center City water main break in July 2018 caused around six inches of flooding and temporary power outages for 1,000 customers. ![]()
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