Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has authorized $1.5 million in emergency spending to address the dozens of water main breaks across the city that have been freezing streets and trapping cars.
Last week, the city reported at least 55 water line breaks. Th emergency funding from the city’s Water Operating Fund will help Columbus Water and Power expand its response to fix water lines that burst around the city due to sustained frigid temperatures in the wake of Winter Storm Fern. Ginther announced the spending on Feb. 2 after about a week of city crews playing catch up.
This brings the total emergency money Ginther has approved for the city’s Winter Storm Fern response to $1.7 million. Ginther previously authorized $200,000 for the city Department of Public Service to hire snowplow contractors to assist in removal of the approximately one foot of snow that fell over the city.
City crews continue to prioritize repairs where homes are not receiving water or leaks are damaging property.
The city employs about six to seven crews that can repair city water lines, and the goal is for every team to repair two sites a day, according to city officials.
This map from last week shows where some of the water main breaks were. Some have been repaired by now.
Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus mayor OKs money to fix burst pipes across city after Fern
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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