City Officials Addressing Water Main Breaks, Frozen Pipes

BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ)—Baltimore City officials say they have received nearly 1,000 calls over the past few days due to reported water outages mostly caused by frozen pipes.

Officials say they have crews working 12-hour shifts to address these outages and are using private contractors to help expedite these repairs.

"DPW crews are trying to catch up on a backlog of water leaks caused by the cold snap. Our crews are doing a tough job in tough conditions," said DPW Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E. "We want these issues fixed as soon as possible and continue to request the public's patience as we work to restore service."

Crews are continuing to isolate a water main break on Putty Hill Ave at the Beltway.

City officials offer the following tips to help protect water lines from freezing:

• Let a thin stream of water run from the basement faucet. The stream should be a continuous flow, about the thickness of a pencil lead
• If a pipe is frozen, gently warm it with hot air from a blow dryer at the point where it enters the house
• Know the location of the water shutoff valve in your home. Check it periodically to ensure that it works properly
• Keep bottled water on hand
• Shut off water to outside faucets
• Insulate pipes in unheated parts of the home, and be especially alert if you have had a frozen pipe in the past

The Department of Public Works maintains outdoor water lines up to and including the meter. Lines running from the meter to the house and internal plumbing, is the responsibility of the property owner.

For water emergencies in the city call 311.