ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Missouri American Water crews repaired a water main break that occurred Wednesday on westbound Interstate 270, but the extreme cold has kept the water company busy making repairs around St. Louis County.

On Tuesday, she said water company crews repaired 29 breaks and there are 19 crews working on breaks as of Wednesday.

Some larger breaks that crews are working on include a 16-inch pipe break on Dunn Road; an eight-inch pipe break on Brentwood in front of Galleria Mall where there are lanes closed due to the repair; and a six-inch pipe break in Maplewood on a side street just off Manchester.

Additionally, Barnhart said the company’s field service representatives worked 81 customer emergency orders with the majority being frozen plumbing with the home.

“As a reminder this is on the customer side of the water meter, meaning the repairs would need to be done by the customer,” she said. 

Water pipe bursts have also impacted St. Louis-area residential hotels and apartment buildings.

As Thursday’s high will be 36 degrees, Friday and Saturday temperatures will drop back down to the teens. 

“We’re still reminding people to limit their time outside and make sure that they’re staying warm in a safe manner,” said Sarah Russell, commissioner of Emergency Management for the City of St. Louis.

To keep pipes from bursting, Russell said residents should insulate exposed pipes or leave a faucet dripping. Russell added that it is good to know where their water shut off is in case of a pipe bursting.