Winter’s icy grip has unleashed a wave of water main breaks across Fort Worth, though officials insist the situation remains “manageable” compared to previous weather events.
Nearly a dozen water mains ruptured across the city on Tuesday alone, disrupting service for approximately 145 customers as temperatures plunged below freezing. Despite the flurry of breaks, city water officials maintain that the current situation pales in comparison to the catastrophic 2021 winter storm that crippled much of Texas.
“Ten main breaks in a day is not bad at all. It’s more than a normal day, but for a winter weather event, right now things are not outrageous. They are manageable,” a Fort Worth Water representative stated, providing context by recalling the 2021 disaster. “How many breaks did we get up to in 2021? Oh, 719 I believe in total over about a 17-day period.”
Suburbs Not Spared
The winter storm’s impact extended beyond Fort Worth proper. Trophy Club residents faced their own water crisis when a 14-inch main burst Saturday evening at the intersection of Trophy Club Drive and Indian Creek Drive, as documented by local media.
For residents facing water emergencies, Fort Worth officials recommend calling the city’s non-emergency line at 311 for assistance shutting off water to their homes. This simple step can prevent significant property damage while awaiting repairs.
Working with water infrastructure during freezing conditions requires special care, experts note. “It’s tedious, and you can’t turn valves off quickly. If you turn them too quickly, you create a water hammer. And a water hammer is that pressure has to go somewhere, and it can cause more breaks,” a water department representative explained.
Prevention Still Key
Should you still be dripping your faucets? Absolutely, according to plumbing professionals who advise continuing this practice as long as overnight temperatures remain below freezing.
“Our lines, really in Texas, aren’t buried deep enough in this area,” one plumbing expert pointed out. “Your water bill will be higher than your normal for the month beforehand, but would you rather have a high-water bill of, you know, $30, $40, or an expensive plumbing bill and possibly water damage?”
For those already dealing with frozen pipes, caution is paramount. The city’s official winter weather guidance warns against DIY thawing methods: “If it’s from a frozen pipe, it is safest to call a plumber to handle the problem. The pipe may be cracked and will burst when thawed. Don’t use an electrical appliance to heat the pipe. This could cause the pipe to burst, creating the risk of electrocution.”
Community Resources Available
What happens if the situation worsens? Fort Worth has contingency plans in place.
“Fort Worth Park & Recreation remains in close communication with the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and is prepared to open community centers as emergency crisis shelters in response to incidents such as apartment fires or widespread power outages,” according to the city’s winter weather resources.
As the region navigates through this cold snap, the contrast with 2021’s devastating winter storm offers a silver lining—a reminder that while infrastructure remains vulnerable to extreme cold, both residents and officials appear better prepared this time around. That said, with more freezing temperatures in the forecast, the full extent of winter’s impact on the city’s aging water system may not be known for days.
