Broken main spotlights aging infrastructure

The Oceanside Fire Department pumped water, and rescued people and pets from a 12 inch water main break on Pearl Street at River Avenue last Monday.

New York American Water Company, PSEG and National Grid responded, turning off gas and electric. About 30 homes were without water, and by nightfall 10 were still getting bottled water from the water company.

The water company spent several days last week repairing a 12-inch water main that broke May 11 at the intersection of Lincoln and Anchor Avenues in Oceanside, now another 12 inch main broke in front of 627 Pearl Street but Vice President of Operations at New York American Water Christopher Buday says they are not related, even though both pipes were from the 1950’s and both cast iron. Buday said many things might effect a pipe, vibration, traffic, etc. but until there is an analysis there is no way to tell why the pipe broke.

Communications Director Peter Eschbach said over the years pipes can develop microscopic cracks. Because water pipes are always full and under constant pressure sometimes those cracks enlarge, and after time you can get a catastrophic failure like these.

Once we repair the main we back fill the land, and apply a temporary patch to the street.” “It can take a month or two or more for the area to settle,” Eschbach said.

“We have pipe that dates back to the 1900’s,” said Eschbach, “Back then they used a process called ‘pit cast’ which produced a thick walled cast iron pipe. Some of those have lasted a century. Around mid-century they used a ‘spun cast’ process, which produced a pipe with a thinner wall. Those can last about 75 years. Now they use a ‘ductile iron’ pipe. It’s an iron alloy and it comes with a half inch of concrete inside. People often complain about rust colored water, the coating prevents rust from forming. The outside of the pipe is also coated with an anti-corrosive chemical. Our engineers estimate the ductile pipes will last 75 years.”

Eschbach explained that they can back fill some water pipes with a cement or plastic coating thanks to modern technology, which will mean a longer life for the pipe.