http://www.omaha.com/article/2012080...708029940/1707

Apparently water mains are breaking all over US?

"Workers with the Western Virginia Water Authority responded Wednesday to the intersection of Elm Avenue and Franklin Road in Roanoke for a break in the 12-inch waterline near the downtown fire department, authorities said."

"The city averages 40 to 50 waterline breaks per month. Workers responded to 68 breaks in May and 28 in June."
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/312269

In Philidelphia they're below average yet, but yet " City workers were mopping up Wednesday after the city's third water-main break in 10 days."
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20...and_Tioga.html

In Jersey:

"MUA Chairman Victor D'Ambrosio said the 6-foot water line entering into the Haledon municipal building cracked open on the top approximately 6 1/2 feet on July 21 around 10 a.m. resulting in a loss of water pressure.

D'Ambrosio said it was more common for cracks to occur on the bottom or side of the water line."
http://www.northjersey.com/community....html?page=all

Also in New Jersey...

"Officials say a 48-inch water main broke, shooting a geyser of water up from the street and creating a 15-foot long, 14-foot deep hole on Portland Avenue near Watchung View Place, not far from downtown Scotch Plains."
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...nion_coun.html


In New Brighton:

"Jim Riggio, the authority's general manager, said the break, at 10th Street and Fourth Avenue, was reported around 6 a.m. Riggio said he didn't know the cause of the break, but said it was a large one; workers spent the morning replacing a full joint of pipe, about 20 feet long."
http://www.timesonline.com/news/loca...70156e291.html

Ohio:

"STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — Water main breaks in two different cities have left some residents and businesses without service."
http://fox8.com/2012/08/02/traffic-w...lle-maple-hts/

Denver:

"Denver Water responded to a 12-inch water main break that will close a major route out of Denver until Thursday afternoon."
http://kdvr.com/2012/08/02/water-mai...til-afternoon/


A St. Louis paper posted this article about the causes:

"Hot and dry conditions are being blamed for three water main breaks overnight across St. Louis and other recent breaks in the area."
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/m...93962f8ad.html

So the drought.. or ageing infrastructure.