“Out of sight, out of mind” might be one way to describe the nation’s leaky municipal water system. But when pipes begin popping like firecrackers on the Fourth of July, people tend to take notice.So it was for the City of Milwaukee this spring when 33 mains let loose the third weekend of May. By Wednesday the following week, the number hit 76; reports of 82 breaks were quickly revised to 92. For the month, the utility fixed about 107 mains — far exceeding the monthly May average of 16.The beginning of a pipe crisis
The series of events began the
Pipe-Popping Spring Keeps Milwaukee Crews Hopping
In May, utility crews in Milwaukee fixed 107 mains, far exceeding monthly averages. What caused the outbreak? And is it a symptom of a national infrastructure problem?
Jun 19, 2014
| by Ed Wodalski |
