Frozen pipes cause few problems in Winnipeg so far, city says

WINNIPEG — City staff say they are keeping a close watch on how deep the frost is after pipes froze at hundreds of properties last winter.

Just under 50 properties reported frozen pipes by this time in January 2014. So far in 2015 there have been four reports.

“We are seeing more of a typical winter,” said Tim Shanks, of Winnipeg’s water and waste department.

READ MORE: City says it’s better prepared for frozen pipes

The frost went down around 2.7 metres in the winter of 2013-14. As of Tuesday it was 1.18 metres deep. The crucial depth at which frost causes serious problems is around 2.4 metres.

So far this winter, the city has not told anyone to run their water, Shanks said. Last year more than 7,000 properties were instructed to leave a tap running to prevent freeze up. Property owners who choose to run their water without receiving a notification to do so from the city will have to pay their full water bills.

READ MORE: Winnipeg faces $10M bill from broken water mains and frozen pipes

The four frozen underground pipes reported so far were all on residential property owners’ private water service pipes. By this time in the winter of 2012-13, there were eight frozen underground water pipes, seven in the private portion of pipes and one in city property, the city said.