Water mains are large pipes under roads that move water around town. A water main break is a crack or hole in one of these pipes. Main breaks are normal events in any water system, especially in colder winter months.
On the surface, main breaks can look like water bubbling up out of the street. In extreme cases, the water can cause sinkholes and flooding.
We work hard to keep our 2,250 miles of pipe in good condition. Many of our pipes are aging, so we proactively replace over 30,000 feet of water main every year. This maintenance work reduces the frequency of main breaks, but we can’t prevent them all.
Our skilled crews are always ready to respond to breaks. Once notified of a break, crews often arrive on-site within an hour and don’t stop working until repairs are complete.
How a water main break might impact you
Main breaks can have different impacts depending on the size of the pipe, its location, and how it’s connected to the rest of our water system.
If a main break is very large, located on a major road, or affecting many customers, we may post additional information and updates on Facebook, X (Twitter), our blog, or banners at the top of our web pages.
Impacts to nearby residents and businesses can include the following:
- Main breaks can cause reduced water pressure or complete loss of water for nearby customers.
- Water Bureau crews may need to temporarily shut off water for nearby customers while they repair the pipe. If we need to shut off your water during repairs, crews will place a notice on your front door.
- Crews may need to close lanes or streets to work safely.
- Because Portland’s drinking water is not currently filtered, sediment from the forest settles at the bottom of our pipes. Main breaks can stir up that sediment and temporarily discolor customers’ drinking water. Occasionally main breaks can cause discolored water for customers in a large area. If you experience discolored water during a main break, please follow the watch, wait, and after instructions on this web page.
What you can do during a water main break
- Follow all traffic control signs and crew instructions.
- Use water from your emergency water supply if your water service is impacted.
- If your water is discolored, check one cold water faucet every hour by running the water for one to two minutes. Once the water appears clear, you can flush any faucets where discolored water was present and resume using water like normal. Learn more about what to do during a discolored water event.
Reporting water main breaks and water quality issues
We can’t respond to breaks until we know about them. If you see water running from streets or sidewalks, it could be a main break! Please report it by calling our 24-hour emergency line at 503-823-4874.
If you experience ongoing water quality problems or lose water service with no notification, call the Water Quality Line at 503-823-7525, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. After hours, contact the 24-hour emergency line at 503-823-4874.
Note: During large events, we often receive hundreds of calls reporting the same issue. Before calling, you can check our Facebook, X (Twitter), and blog to see if crews are already responding.
How water main breaks happen
In Portland, main breaks happen most often in cold weather. When cold water from the Bull Run Watershed flows into town, it can make our pipes more brittle. Cold air temperatures can also cause the ground above a pipe to freeze and thaw. This increases the stress on a pipe, which can cause it to break.
Other factors that can contribute to a main break include pipe age, pipe material, soil conditions, pipe corrosion, and ground movement.
How we repair water main breaks
Every main break is different. A simple repair can be completed in six to eight hours, but large or complicated repairs may take several days to a week. Our response will vary based on the specific situation.
However, in general, our crews fix a broken water main using the following steps:
Step one: Respond to the site of the leak. Reduce the flow of the water by turning control valves.
Step two: Request marking of gas, electric, and other utility lines so we can dig safely.
Step three: Cut open the road and dig down to the pipe.
Step four: Repair or replace the pipe.
Step five: Open a fire hydrant to pull clean water through the pipes, test water quality, then turn all the water back on.
Step six: Fill the hole and patch or put a plate on the street. Plan a permanent street repair.
Prepare your plumbing for winter weather
Pipe breaks of all kinds are more common during cold weather, and your household pipes are no exception. You can take steps to protect your plumbing from winter weather to reduce the risk of breaks.