Freezing temperatures were blamed for a water main break that disrupted service for dozens of customers in Lynbrook over the weekend, the latest incident highlighting the growing strain on aging infrastructure across Long Island — both above and below ground.
Liberty Water said it was notified around 11 p.m. Saturday of a break on Mill River Avenue near Ocean Avenue. Crews responded overnight and repaired the damaged pipe, restoring full water service by about 10 a.m. Sunday. The utility said approximately 25 customers were affected.
Company officials said prolonged cold weather likely caused the pipe to crack, a common winter problem as water inside aging mains expands and contracts. Utilities nationwide have reported spikes in water main breaks during periods of sudden cold, as underground pipes are stressed by sharp temperature changes, making older pipes more brittle and prone to fracture.
A 2024 report by the Utah State University College of Engineering found that utilities across the U.S. and Canada experience an estimated 260,000 water main breaks annually, with the average failed pipe about 53 years old. More than a third of water mains have exceeded their intended useful life, highlighting a widespread need for replacement and modernization.
Older materials, such as cast iron, are particularly vulnerable. Over time, corrosion and environmental stress weaken pipes, and when combined with shifting soil, pressure changes, or freeze-thaw cycles, the likelihood of rupture increases, according to Miriam Rafailovich, a Stony Brook University professor of materials science.
Addressing these issues requires both maintenance and long-term investment, Rafailovich said, but funding remains a major challenge. A report from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2024 estimated that North American municipalities need hundreds of billions of dollars to replace aging water mains, and many local utilities struggle to keep pace with necessary repairs.
For Lynbrook and other Long Island communities, the recent break highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to extreme weather and age. Experts say proactive upgrades and ongoing investment are essential to reduce future disruptions, particularly as winter temperatures continue to fluctuate.
“This isn’t just an engineering problem,” Rafailovich said. “It’s a problem that intersects biology, toxicology, and energy policy. We need more interdisciplinary solutions.”
