The number of water main break complaints in Brooklyn is on the rise, and one community district is particularly vulnerable to this trend.
“Typically water main breaks are related to pressure, so the higher the pressure, the more you have water main breaks,” said James N. Jensen, professor of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at the University at Buffalo.
In Brooklyn, the number of complaints for water main breaks has increased by nearly 50 percent since 2013, according to an analysis of city data. Community District 18 has seen 72 water main break complaints since 2013, the highest number in Brooklyn.
“There may be some issues trying to balance the pressure in the system,” said Jensen.
Scale build-up affects the diameter of pipes, which may also lead to breaks. “If you have pressure in a pipe that you think is 12 inches in diameter rather than 10 inches in diameter because of that build up, you’re more likely to get a break there, too,” he said.
“DEP is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade water mains across Brooklyn to ensure the water delivery system remains in a state of goof [sic] repair for decades to come,” said the New York City Department of Environmental Protection in a statement.
On average, water main breaks in New York City occur less often than in other municipalities, according to DEP. Community District 18 sees the most breaks in Brooklyn because it has the most miles of water main than any other district in Brooklyn.
“Breaks will happen,” said Jensen. “It’s a normal part of operation.”