The Hermiston Water Department is urging water users to insulate their water meters to prevent freezing. Overnight temperatures have been dipping into the single digits and are forecast to continue to be well below freezing in the Hermiston area, which poses a major threat to cause damage to homeowners’ water meters.
“When we get these really low temperatures for an extended period of time, that’s when we really see the most calls from customers having their pipes freeze,” said Water Department Superintendent Roy Bicknell.
Customers are encouraged to insulate their water meters by preventing cold air from getting into the box around the meter. The best option is to cut a piece of insulation to fit the box, and place it over the meter and close the lid, Bicknell said. Another option is to put crumpled newspapers in a double-bagged garbage bag, and place the sealed bag over the meter. Bicknell recommends making sure that whatever insulation material is used, residents make sure that it won’t get soggy through the course of the winter, so that it can be easily removed in the spring.
