OKC Flooded With Water Pipe Problems From Winter Weather

Our recent weather is causing some considerable problems with the city's water main pipes. Pipes have been breaking across the city, flooding streets and neighborhoods.

Debbie Regan, City of Oklahoma City Public Works spokesperson says they have had 77 water main breaks in the past five days. Typically, they have like five or six breaks in that time period. A priority system determines which breaks crews respond to first.

If customers are without water, there is property damage or it's causing a safety hazard with slick roads those are the first priority.

Regan says the breaks are caused by the extreme changes in temperature. So a warm up on the way may only open the flood gates to even more problems.

"We're ready for that," she says.

Regan says crews work in pairs, so they can take turns getting into the truck and warming up and also watch out for each other so they don't get frostbite.