ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio — St. Clairsville officials say recent water line upgrades are helping reduce the number of winter water breaks as colder temperatures set in. Over the past two years, the city has replaced about 40% of its water distribution lines, many of which dated back to 1927.
The project replaced aging cast iron pipes with new PVC lines, which are less susceptible to cracking during freeze-thaw cycles. As a result, water line breaks dropped from 132 in 2024 to 27 in 2025 after the first phase of the project was completed.
The city plans to begin Phase Two, which would replace up to 80% of the distribution system. Officials also encourage property owners to protect water meters from freezing by properly insulating them while following fire safety guidelines.
