Cold snap breaks Asheville water main, affecting 15 to 20 homes

Crews from Asheville’s Water Resources Department worked to isolate and repair a broken water pipe on Acton Circle in the Candler area after freezing temperatures contributed to the failure. The break left roughly 15 to 20 homes with low or interrupted water service and kept Acton Circle closed for much of the day while crews dug in to reach the line.

City crews said the damaged line was isolated and repairs were under way. Clay Chandler, a spokesperson for the City of Asheville’s Water Resources Department, described the operational challenge: “These water lines are between three and four feet under the surface and with freezing temperatures that we’ve had the ground is a little bit harder than it usually is, which means our excavators have to work a little harder to get down to them, that can take a little longer.” Officials said frozen ground and recent snow contributed to longer repair times and to the road closure.

City officials said the pipe break was the fourth caused by cold weather, underscoring a pattern of weather-driven infrastructure failures during this prolonged cold spell. While the exact start and restoration times for each affected household were not released, crews focused on Acton Circle and other nearby streets to contain the problem and restore service.

The local incident fits a broader regional pattern. Utilities and public works departments across neighboring states have reported multiple cold-weather main breaks that have required crews to dig into frozen roads, block traffic and, in some cases, issue temporary boil-water advisories. In one nearby city a public works department reported eight customers under a boil-water advisory after a separate break. Salisbury Township police sergeant Bryan Losagio said of the wider trend, “It's happening everywhere right now,” and noted the repair process often means crews “have to dig out part of the road to repair the pipe, put everything back together.” Lehigh County Authority communications director Taylor Stakes framed the season bluntly: “We like to call this our main break season.” Stakes added, “A lot of our guys who work in the field and repair main breaks are saying this has been one of the toughest years as far as main breaks goes, just because how cold it's gotten and how long it's been cold,” and urged vigilance: “The best thing that anybody can do is if you see water in the street bubbling, give us a call or the water utility a call.”

For Buncombe County residents, the immediate takeaway is pragmatic. Expect crews to be slower when digging in frozen ground, anticipate possible traffic disruptions near repair sites, and report visible street leaks or bubbling to Asheville Water Resources. Neighboring utilities have also advised running cold water for several minutes to clear any discoloration after service interruptions; if discoloration, loss of pressure or other problems persist, contact the Water Resources Department. As the cold snap continues to test aging pipes, officials say more breaks remain possible and response times may be extended by frozen ground and winter road conditions.