Warmer weather leads to more water main breaks

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A rise in temperatures on Wednesday led to several water main breaks and pipe bursts across the area.

Interstate 270 was partially covered with water after a water main break in north St. Louis County Wednesday morning.

“We are going to have crews all over the county today; the best advice I can give people as they’re traveling is to keep an eye open for our crews,” Christie Barnhart, external affairs manager at Missouri American Water, said. “Approach those intersections slowly and make sure we keep them safe while they’re working hard to restore water service.”

The Embassy Suites Hotel in Bridgeton faced a sprinkler burst in the lobby overnight, leading to water buildup on the first floor. While guests did not have to evacuate, it did set off the fire alarms.

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A similar issue occurred at the California Gardens apartment complex in south St. Louis. A resident complained of water leaking through his ceiling. A maintenance worker said a water pipe burst in a vacant apartment above the tenant’s unit.

Early Tuesday morning, over 200 residents were displaced from the Mark Twain Hotel after a broken pipe, forcing them to evacuate.

“This time of year, it’s common… as the ground warms up and shifts, sometimes that can cause the pipes underground to break,” Barnhart said. “Just because it warms up this weekend doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods quite yet.”

American Water reminds residents and business owners that there are simple steps that can be taken to prevent frozen water pipes, which can be found here.

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