Temperature Swings Cause Issues for Water Mains

Greeley winters can feel like a roller coaster, can’t they?

Big temperature swings—freezing mornings, followed by 40°F afternoons, make water mains expand and shrink repeatedly, which can crack older castiron and ductileiron pipes.  

The freezethaw cycle also moves the ground: frozen soil expands and pushes on pipes; thawing lets it settle and shift. Colorado’s expansive clay soils add more movement as they swell when wet and shrink when dry.

Crews can usually fix a temperature break by digging up the street and placing a stainless steel repair clamp around the crack on the pipe. To help prevent that section from breaking again, they add a sand-gravel mixture around the pipe to provide a cushion when the ground shifts.

Other factors that can contribute to breaks include age and material of the pipe, corrosion, the type of soil and the amount of water pressure running through the pipe.

In 2025, Greeley had 58 water main breaks, about 5.2% above average. Many repairs take up to three days to reach final restoration. Crews must compact and stabilize the ground around the repair before adding temporary asphalt to the roadway so it can be driven on.  

If you see water coming out of the roadway, report it immediately by calling 970-350-9811, Extension 3