The heat wave much of the nation is experiencing has begun claiming a critical casualty--underground water pipes.
The heat wave of the past few weeks has burst hundreds of crucial pipes in California, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky and New York, temporarily shutting off water to countless consumers just when they needed it most.
"It's one of the worst summers," said Debbie Ragan of Oklahoma City's Utilities Department. As days of 100 degree-plus temperatures bake the region, the utility reports 685 water main breaks since July alone. That's an estimated rate of four times normal. To keep up with repairs, Ragan said, workers have been putting in 12-to 16-hour shifts 24/7.
The classic image of a drought is cracks in dry ground due to drying soil. Well, that soil has been shrinking away from the lines. Combined with increased water pressure, the strain on the pipeline walls has caused them to burst. Part of the problem is that many of the nation's water pipes are coming to the end of their lives--and the cost of replacing them could send water bills off the charts for many areas.
How bad is it? In Kemp, Texas--just west of Dallas--a rash of breaks sucked the water towers completely dry, forcing the city to shut off water for two weeks. And in the west Texas town of Robert Lee, the reservoir is completely dry.
Currently, the American Society of Water Engineers gives the nation's water infrastructure a D minus. By the EPA's estimate, it will cost a whopping $334 billion to upgrade.