La Salle looking to prevent replay of frozen water pipes

The ground under Lafayette Street in La Salle isn’t frozen, yet. The frigid cold temperatures last winter left many of the homes in the 12 and 13 hundred blocks of Lafayette Street without running water.

That shouldn’t happen this winter according to City engineer Brian Brown. He believes the main froze during the frigid weather because it’s too shallow and a nearby water valve was broken in the closed position.

To play it safe, the city has sent letters to the people who were affected by the frozen main. Brown says they’re asking them to take the temperature of their water once it has been freezing for a while. Once the water temperature dips below 35, they’ll be asking people to let their water drip. Brown says the city will adjust the water bill so they are only charged for their normal usage.

The water main and sewer lines are scheduled to be replaced next spring.