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SALT LAKE CITY -- Salt Lake City's water infrastructure suffers hundreds of breaks every year, in spite of a heavy investment from taxpayers. But a recent study shows the city is doing pretty well, by comparison.
A water main break at 900 South and West Temple Sunday night was the latest break, but the city says it was a relatively minor inconvenience.
"Large water systems, it's just one of the parts of doing businesses is that there's breaks," said Jeff Niermeyer, director of the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities.
In 2009, there were 367 breaks at various places in Salt Lake City's 1,396 miles of pipe. It may sound like quite a bit, but a city-by-city comparison from the American Water Works Association actually puts Salt Lake City as one of the best in the nation when it comes to numbers and severity of water main breaks.
Still, Salt Lake City water users pay for that top ranking. The city pumps $14 million into improving water infrastructure every year -- projects like the storm drain replacement along 900 South.
"I look at it as: You pay for your car, but you pay for the roads to drive on; and I think it's the same thing. You pay for the water, and you pay for the infrastructure to bring the water to your home," explained Salt Lake City Councilman J.T. Martin.
Even with all that investment, water main breaks happen on a regular basis. In May of 2009, a more visual example happened at 1500 south and 700 east.
At the public utilities office, there are examples of pipes where relatively modest-looking holes have created major problems.
Some of the cities pipes date back to pre-World War II times, and updating them requires a commitment.
"Infrastructure tends to be ‘out of sight, out of mind,' and so it's not on people's radar unless they're personally having a problem," Niermeyer said.
The project on 900 South is actually a storm drain project -- part of a system that constantly needs updating.
E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
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