1.0 CIMCITY COMMISSION INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
ADMINISTRATIVE BRIEF FROM MARTHA TASKER March 21, 2022
Increase in Water Main Breaks in 2021
The original water distribution system was constructed prior to 1900. The construction that took
place in the late 1800's through the 1960's was with cast iron pipe (CIP). In the 1970's and
1980's, ductile iron pipe (DIP) with cement lining was installed, and from the 1990's polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) pipe has been installed. The water distribution system consists of approximately
333 miles of water main. Today, the Salina water distribution system is 195 miles CIP (60%), 75
miles DIP (22%), and 63 miles PVC (19%).
The following graph shows the number of water main breaks per year from 2000 through 2021.
For this time period, the average is 115 water main breaks per year, and the number of water
main breaks in 2021 was 164.
200
180
160
m
m
> 140
d
CL
x 120
m
d
c 100
m
a 80
d
a
E 60
z
z
S:9
20
Salina Mainbreaks
2000-2021
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Year
Approximately $20 million of water main replacements have been financed, contracted for and
construction is nearly complete. From the year 2022 and beyond, $2.0 million per year in water
main replacements will be funded through revenues from the water rates. The long-term goal is
to keep water rates reasonable for our customers, while meeting the long-term replacement
needs of the water distribution system to ensure a reliable and high quality water supply to our
customers.
Sub -zero temperatures in the winter months and extreme hot and dry conditions in the summer
months can cause water main breaks. Whether it is hot or cold, the ground changes or shifts
(contracts or expands). When it is cold, the ground tends to contract, and when it warms up, it
expands. The water mains are not flexible and due to that, the main breaks. Water usage during
summer months is typically 8-9 million gallons per day (mgd) and winter usage is typically 3-4
mgd. This variation in usage causes fluctuation in velocities and water pressure through the
water mains, increasing the stress in the water mains and adding to the possibility of the water
mains breaking. Water main breaks are typically identified as one of the following:
Blowout: A portion of the wall of the pipe is blown out
diameter / 6 -inch x 6 -inch opening)
Split: A split (longitudinal crack) occurs in the wall of the
foot in length)
Circle Break: A break around the circumference of the
(typically results in two pipe sections being off -set)
(ranges from 1 -inch to 1 -foot
pipe (ranges from 1 -foot to 10 -
pipe, sheering the pipe in two
Blowouts and splits typically occur as a result of pressure changes and a weak pipe. Circle
breaks typically occur as a result of the ground shifting and putting stress on the water main to a
point where it breaks. During the year the water main breaks tend to be split equally for the
above identified types of breaks.
The following tables compares Salina's number of water main breaks with neighboring
communities for the years of 2018 and 2021. The color code of green represents a decrease in
water main breaks and red represents an increase of water main breaks between years 2018
and 2021.
city
Main
Breaks
in 2018
Miles of
Water
Main
Main
Breaks
per 100
miles—
ilesTo
eka
Topeka
847
890
95
Has
53
128
41
Salina
110
333
33
Wichita
579
2,400
24
Newton
28
140
20
Manhattan
54
298
18
Hutchinson
35
307
11
Main
Miles of
Main
city
Breaks
Water
Breaks
in 2021
Main
per 100
miles
Topeka
538
890
Has
32
120
353
Salina
164
Wichita
1019
2530
Newton
24
160
Manhattan
67
301
Hutchinson
82
307
On average, the Utilities Department cost to repair a water main break is approximately $3,500.
In 2021, with 164 main breaks, the estimated cost is $574,000 for repairs.
The following map indicates the water main breaks were spread throughout the city where CIP
is installed.
WATER MAIN BREAK LOCATIONS ;_.._.
2021
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