With temperatures soaring compared to the record lows set earlier this month, the City of Estevan is on alert for water main breaks.

Those happen whenever there's a break in a pipe or service, and water escapes the pipe leading to the surface.

Shane Bucsis, Water and Wastewater Service manager for Estevan, says those chances increase as temperatures change.

"It can happen at any time of the year based on demand or weather. But shifting (temperatures) can cause water main breaks."

Keeping an eye out for any flowing water is the prime method for finding a water break, even when it's cold out.

"You should see flowing water," said Bucsis, "If it's a very, very, very slow water break, you can see built-up icing, but for this time of year where we've had so much melting and frost and extreme cold, the ice indication doesn't necessarily mean there's a water break." 

The best way to deal with a water main break near your house is to make sure crews know about it as soon as possible.

"If you spot it, report it, and then our staff can head out there to either turn it down or turn it off depending on how big the break is," said Bucsis, "Generally what we do is if we can make it manageable, we'll turn the valves down, kind of reduce the pressure in the area, but still provide people with water and then the next day, dig it."

Bucsis asks that people call in no matter the time so a crew can be on the scene as soon as possible.

"Please call City Hall at 634-1800. There is someone on call 24 hours a day to deal with water breaks. We turn valves and kind of make it manageable at 2:00 in the morning."

Bucsis asks people to call in even if they're unsure so that crews can find the potential source as soon as possible.