Warmer temperatures may help break ice jams that have kept about a hundred homes and businesses in Jackson from having running water.
The deep freeze that gripped the state in January froze the pipes linking city water mains to more than 150 homes and businesses in Jackson. The problem is many of the lines were not buried below the frost line.
Many of the pipes are buried about four feet down. But this year, the record cold sent the frost line down five to seven feet.
Jackson mayor Jason Smith is hopeful temperatures rising into the 50’s this weekend will help.
“When we had the warm up a few weeks ago that cleared close to 10 or 15 lines for us naturally,” says Smith, “So we’re hoping that this weather will help us.”
But warming temperatures could also be a problem, since the thaw could burst pipelines.
Smith says he wants a longer-term solution for the homeowners.
“We want to work with them to get these lines buried deeper,” says Smith, “We want to make sure they are taken care of.”
The city has been providing bottled water to people affected by the frozen pipes. They’ve also been able to shower at the local YMCA.
