Columbus is dealing with a surge of water main breaks across the city and surrounding suburbs, and if it feels like every other street is iced over, you’re not imagining it.
As of the afternoon of Jan. 29, there were over 50 active water main breaks reported across Columbus and nearby communities, following days of bitter cold and the aftermath of winter storm Fern. The ruptured lines have turned roadways into sheets of ice, trapped vehicles in place, and created dangerous conditions for pedestrians and drivers alike.
According to the City of Columbus, extreme and prolonged cold is the main culprit. Mayor Andrew Ginther said, “A lot of these water main breaks happen when there’s extreme fluctuations in temperature or when it is extremely low for an extended period of time,” according to the Dispatch. He added that with frigid temperatures expected to continue, the city anticipates more breaks in the days ahead.
Neighborhoods feeling the impact
Water main breaks have been reported across much of central Ohio, affecting Columbus neighborhoods as well as Whitehall, Dublin, Grove City, Upper Arlington, Worthington, Hilliard, and Mifflin Township. Streets from North Linden to the Near East Side, from German Village to the Northwest Side, have seen flooding and ice buildup.
In many cases, flowing water has frozen faster than crews can clear it, leaving thick layers of ice that make streets impassable.
A prolonged problem in German Village
One of the most difficult situations has been unfolding in German Village, near Brust Street and East Sycamore Street. Residents say water has been flowing continuously, freezing over and refreezing, despite multiple reports to the city.
German Village resident Michael Rourke said the issue has persisted for about a month. “At least a dozen times, if not more… and they’ve responded, come out and looked at it, they even dug a hole out here, but they never stopped the water,” Rourke told 10TV.
The ice buildup has created hazardous conditions and secondary flooding concerns. “It’s spilling into our neighbors… below their basement but getting in their sump pumps so all the sudden you’ll start having a geyser of water come out and then it’ll flow for 15 minutes of just rapid water, so it just keeps building back up,” Rourke said.
Several vehicles have been stuck in the ice for days, and at least one towing company reportedly declined to attempt a rescue due to the conditions.
City officials say a leak in the area was repaired last week, but ongoing testing has not indicated that the continued water flow is coming from a city-owned water line. Department of Public Service crews have been working to break up and remove ice, though conditions remain dangerous.
Why repairs are taking time
City crews are working around the clock, but repairs are slow-going. Columbus Water & Power spokesperson George Zonders told the Dispatch that the city has seven repair crews, along with contractors, addressing active breaks. On Jan. 28, each city crew repaired about one leak per day.
Winter weather complicates the process. Ice buildup makes streets inaccessible, while extremely low temperatures reduce the effectiveness of de-icing chemicals. “It is challenging because we have snow warriors and others getting snow off of roadways, but when you have these water main breaks, you have an exceptional amount of ice that makes some of these roads not passable,” Ginther told the Dispatch.
The Department of Public Service has also reported equipment issues caused by the cold, including salt freezing inside trucks and requiring time to thaw.
How to report a water main break
City leaders are urging residents to report suspected water main breaks as soon as possible. Signs can include water bubbling up through pavement, unexplained ice buildup, reduced water pressure, or the sound of running water underground.
Residents can report issues by:
- Calling 311 or 614-645-3111 (weekdays, 7 a.m.–6 p.m.)
- Calling 614-645-7788 after hours or on weekends
- Emailing 311@columbus.gov
- Using the Columbus 311 mobile app or visiting columbus.gov
As temperatures remain below freezing, officials warn that water main breaks will likely continue to pop up across the region. For now, residents are encouraged to avoid icy streets when possible and to report problems quickly to help crews respond as efficiently as conditions allow.
