An analysis of how the town resolved the January 18th water main break

An excellent analysis of the January 18th water main break from the Commissioner of Public Works, Rich Fon. This explanation will provide you with a better understanding of Greenburgh water main breaks and the difficulties addressing these kind of issues. Hats off to the hard working and dedicated town employees who worked very hard to restore water after the break. Difficult working conditions, snow, very cold. Those involved in the repairs deserve our thanks and appreciation.
PAUL FEINERGreenburgh Town Supervisor
Please be advised of the following report regarding the water main break that occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026, and the subsequent investigation, repair, testing, and restoration of service.
Health Department Testing and Restoration of Service
Following completion of the repair, two full rounds of bacteriological testing were conducted in coordination with the Westchester County Health Department. Both rounds returned negative results.
Year's History
For point of reference, during the past year the Water Department responded to:

• 87 water main breaks
• 8 sewer main repairsThis incident, including the recent break on Central Avenue, is consistent with the aging condition of portions of our transmission system.

Timeline of Events – Sunday, January 18, 2026

• 9:30 AM – First call received at the Water Shop reporting a suspected break.
• 10:45 AM – Code 54 emergency mark-out request called in.
• Field crews mobilized immediately under active winter storm conditions (approximately 3 inches of snow at the time).

Valve Operations and System Isolation Challenges
This break occurred on a 20-inch diameter transmission main. A frequent question is why isolating the main takes a significant amount of time. The following conditions contributed:

• Snow cover made locating valve boxes difficult.
• Valve boxes required excavation, cleaning, and “keying up” due to debris and frozen conditions within chambers.
• More than 15 valves had to be located, accessed, and shut in sequence to properly isolate the section of main.
• This process is deliberate and necessary to prevent additional system damage and to control pressure changes elsewhere in the system.

Excavation and Pipe Removal Conditions

• The main was located approximately 5 feet below grade.
• The pipe wall thickness of this transmission main required significant cutting effort.
• Multiple saw blades were consumed and one saw failed during removal due to the pipe’s thickness and condition.
• The break consisted of an approximately 14-foot longitudinal crack in the pipe.
• Dewatering Time Following Valve Closure: After isolation valves are closed and system pressure is relieved, a significant amount of time is required to dewater the affected section of water main. Hydrants are opened to assist in draining the line; however, much of the remaining water exits through the break itself and accumulates in the excavation. With large-diameter transmission mains and wide isolation areas, substantial volumes of water must be drained and pumped from the excavation before the area can be safely secured and repair work can begin. Depending on the size of the isolated section and the diameter of the main, this dewatering process can take several hours.

Repair Performed

• A 20-foot section of damaged pipe was removed.
• New pipe was installed in kind using two Hy-Max repair couplings.
• Area was properly backfilled and secured pending final restoration work.

Cost of Repair

• The approximate cost of this repair, excluding water loss, is $32,328.

Operational Note
This event occurred during an active storm response. Field supervision and office coordination were occurring simultaneously. In the future, during major incidents and storms, we will ensure dedicated in-office coverage so that information flow, documentation, and external communication can occur while field operations are underway.
If the Board has any questions or would like further detail regarding this incident or our broader water main condition program, please let me know.
Respectfully,
Rich