As a result of the recent frigid temperatures the Golden Triangle and other area of Mississippi have experienced, plumbers and public service workers have been busier than normal dealing with frozen and busted water pipes to homes and businesses.

Todd Gale, General Manager of Columbus Light and Water, said as of Tuesday, his department has responded to more than 200 calls from customers with pipe problems, including one at City Hall.

“On Tuesday, we got a call from City Hall saying they had a busted water pipe in their basement area. They had over four to six feet of water, and we had to cut off the water in order to clean it up. Everything is in working order,” he said.

Gale said when his workers come across a major break in a water line, they work to repair it immediately,

“Any small leak that customers experience can be reported to our office, and we will go from there,” he said.

In Starkville, Director of Public Services Doug Devlin said his men have received many of their calls after hours.

“That has been the main issue for us. We have had an unusually high number of calls to come shut off the water after customers found problems with their pipes,” he said.

David Ellis of the West Point Water Department, said his office received between 20-25 calls during the lengthy period of below freezing temperatures.

“This includes the 11-12 calls our men answered over the weekend. We also had to work on a busted water main on Little Street, and had six calls on Tuesday,” he said.

Bill Kidder of Kidder Plumbing in Columbus said he has been busier than normal recently because of the cold weather.

“Many of these repairs I and others are making could have been prevented if people had taken some precautions,” he said.

One of the biggest problems he said he has experienced is people who have not cut off their water hoses and drained them properly.

“If people will remember to disconnect their garden hoses and let them drain, that can be a help. Also, it helps to leave water dripping in the sinks, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. People worry about having a high water bill by doing that small thing, but it is less costly than what I or another plumber has to do,” he said.

Along with draining all garden hoses, other tips people can use to prevent problems include:

• Locating the water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.

• Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.

• Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your air conditioner has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.

• If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, and set it to at least 55 degrees.