Frequently Asked Questions

Water main breaks can happen year-round, but they are most common during the winter due to several factors including: cold water temperatures, a pipe’s age or condition, freezing and thawing of the ground around the main, increased periods of demand; corrosion; pressure fluctuations caused by nearby breaks; and local construction activity.

Signs include water flowing or leaking out of the ground; water pooling on streets or sidewalks; reduced water pressure; or discolored tap water due to loosened sediment.  If you suspect a main break, please contact Wilmington’s water utility immediately at 311.

Repair times vary based on the location, severity, and weather conditions.  Most repairs take 6-12 hours, but more complex breaks may take longer. 

Water service may be temporarily interrupted during repairs.  After repairs, there might be temporary discoloration due to loosened sediment in the water.  If you see discolored water and a precautionary boil water advisory has not been issues, it is safe to drink.  However, you may wish to run the water until it is clear.

Wilmington’s water professionals test our system to ensure your water quality.  If a precautionary boil water advisory is needed, affected customers will be notified immediately.

For emergencies, call Wilmington 311 or 302-576-2620 (outside City limits).  After hours call 302-654-5151.  You can find more contact information here.

Wilmington invests in proactive maintenance and has a robust replacement program in place.  Real-time monitoring systems also reduce the risk of breaks.  When breaks do occur, rapid response teams are deployed to repair and restore service efficiently while keeping the public informed.

Water main breaks, especially during winter, are hard to prevent.  However, you can reduce the impacts from water main breaks by reporting leaks, unusual water pressure, or signs of damage.  This enables us to fix the breaks and leaks faster.