A break from breaks: Regina, Saskatoon dealing with fewer water main breaks

Lower than average.

That’s what Kurtis Doney — the City of Regina’s director of water, waste, and environment — says about the number of water main breaks in the city for this time of year.

He says the reduction is in part due to city projects.

“The city continues to really invest in our underground infrastructure and we are seeing water main breaks be reduced as a result,” Doney said. “However, we see more water main breaks if it’s very hot (and) we see a lot of water main breaks when it’s extremely cold.”

According to Doney, the city responds to anywhere from 200 to 400 breaks in a year.

So far in March, city crews have responded to only 21.

Doney anticipates the total number of breaks this year being lower than usual.

Saskatoon below five-year average

So far this year, Saskatoon is under the five-year average of 82 water main breaks, according to city information.

As of Saturday, the city had recorded 63 breaks in 2022.

There were three weeks in which 10 or more breaks were recorded. There were 10 in the week of Jan. 8, 11 in the week of Jan. 15, and 10 during the week of Feb. 26.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Libby Giesbrecht