Natural disasters can negatively affect water main lines, potentially requiring extensive repairs and/or total replacement. Weather events such as severe storms, flooding, and earthquakes all threaten the functionality and dependability of your water supply systems.
Here in New York City, the most common and hazardous disaster is flooding. In fact, over 400,000 New York State residents are at high risk of coastal flooding, with a predicted 200,000 more by the year 2050! Read on to learn more about the impact of these devastating occurrences and how you can remedy these problems when they arise.
Water Main Clogs & Blockages
Floods and storms can really mess up even the most secure sewage system. During a storm, various structures and items are manipulated and interfered with in an unpredictable manner. As a result, sewer systems can be breached or obstructed by misplaced debris and obstacles. If these issues reach your water main, expect clogs and blockages. These obstructions can increase the chances of backups, which only lead to more devastating issues down the road.
Water Main Damages
While water main clogs and blockages are a nuisance and potentially devastating, they’re no match for significant water main damage. Any disruption to the foundation surrounding your water main line may result in direct damage to the pipes. These problems include shifting, warping, fractures, and ruptures, all leading to loss of functionality. Furthermore, these damages can progress and require extremely significant repairs and/or replacement.
Water Main Contamination
One negative natural disaster impact related to water mains is water supply contamination. Contamination typically occurs congruently with ruptures in your water main line. These cracks in the structural integrity of your system can invite harmful contaminants into your supply. Pollutants are more present in large cities like New York, so this is a major concern for many residents following storms and floods. Unfortunately, contaminants often remain in pipes long after natural disasters.
As you can see, natural disasters directly and indirectly affect water main lines for countless New York City residents and homeowners. In the event of these issues, it’s best to seek out experienced sewer and water main companies for solutions. Luckily, our team at Harris Main and Water can provide you with effective service following adverse weather events or simply when water main problems arise.
