SEVEN HILLS, Ohio -- The city can’t seem to catch a break this winter when it comes to water main issues.
Mayor Anthony D. Biasiotta said so far this season, the city has dealt with roughly a dozen water main breaks.
“We’re seeing all around the community water main breaks due to the drastic change in the temperatures -- up and down,” he said.
“So freezing and contractions impact these old water pipes that are more than 60 years old.
“We feel like there’s a slight uptick due to more drastic weather, but water main breaks this time of year are not unusual.”
Over the last month, there have been tree lawn water main breaks on Mayfair Drive, Forest Overlook Drive, East Parkhaven Drive, East Decker Drive and Mural Drive. There have been two on Bonroi Drive.
There’s also been two separate curb line water main breaks each on Parkview Drive and Glenella Drive, as well as a roadway water main break on Oakwood Drive.
“Fortunately, of the 12 that we have tracked, nine are already resolved,” the mayor said.
“And 11 of the 12 were either on the curb line or on the tree line, so we’ve not had any road closures.”
He said that when issues are discovered, the city contacts Cleveland Water Department for the repair.
“We follow up and make sure they’re getting addressed in a timely manner,” he said.
“Understand that some of our neighbors have larger issues, and Cleveland Water assigns a priority where a road is closed or there’s more risk of damage to personal property.
“All those water mains are going to take a higher priority than small ones that we’ve experienced in Seven Hills so far this winter.”
Once the Cleveland Water Department makes the repair, construction cones isolate the area, which will be repaired in-house by the city as needed.
“We have an agreement where we do our own patching, with Cleveland Water reimbursing us,” Biasiotta said.
Seven Hills Service Director Jeff Bryda added, “This time of year brings water main breaks.
“Please be patient and know that Cleveland Water Department crews are working to fix any breaks as quickly as they can.”
To report water main breaks, residents can call the Seven Hills Service Department at 216-525-6225 or Cleveland Water Department at 216-664-3060.
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