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Utilities director: 358 water main breaks in 2025; staff outline repairs, notifications and lead-line steps
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Summary
Director Davis told the committee that Topeka recorded 358 water main breaks in 2025 at an average cost of just over $7,000 per break, described steps to reduce breaks and improve customer notification, and said the city will notify customers connected to identified lead or galvanized lines under new lead-and-copper requirements. A public commenter asked for details on an $11 million KDHE loan and locations of lead pipes.
Director Davis told the City of Topeka Public Infrastructure Committee on Jan. 20 that the city recorded 358 water main breaks in 2025 and that the average cost per break was "just over $7,000." He presented a five-year look-back on break counts and averages and said staff excluded three unusually large projects from the 2024–25 averages because they were not reflective of routine breaks.
"You can see, 2025 last year, we had a total of 358 main breaks, at a cost of just over $7,000 per break," Davis said. He explained that cost-per-break averages vary by location, traffic control needs, depth, and whether the break is under pavement, and that large atypical projects (excavations under multi-lane streets) were removed to avoid skewing the typical average.
Davis said the utilities department has relied on contractors to help address spikes in breaks during staffing shortages but that the city now uses more in-house crews as staffing improves. He described ongoing efforts to collect better data on water loss and to issue a request for proposals for outside review of current practices to identify operational improvements and training needs.
On water quality and lead-line issues, Davis said that typical main breaks do not directly affect drinking water unless a break forces the drainage of a tower or other pressure changes that could require public notification. He said the city flushes mains after repairs and will notify customers when a worksite is connected to identified lead or galvanized service lines; the city will provide pitchers and other guidance where required under new lead-and-copper requirements. "If we are working a water main break or doing some sort of work associated with a line that is identified as lead or galvanized ... we're required to notify them," he said.
Public comment followed. Mr. McClure asked how Topeka qualified for an $11,000,000 loan from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and requested the report showing how those funds will be used and where lead pipes are located. "I'd really love to know about how Topeka qualified to get the $11,000,000 loan from KDHE," McClure said and said he would file a formal request through the proper channels. Staff acknowledged the comment and said they would take the request.
Next steps: staff will continue data collection on water loss, proceed with the outside RFP to evaluate practices, coordinate notifications for customers on identified lead or galvanized lines per lead-and-copper requirements, and prepare materials responsive to the public records/request process for the KDHE loan inquiry.
The committee had no formal action on this update; the presentation was informational and the committee moved on to public comment.
