The New Era - All about Sweet Home since 1929

Dec. 14, 1972

Week-long freezing temperatures and snow storms abrupted many locals with freezing water lines.

When the thermometer dropped from 15 degrees to minus three in a day, plumbers, the city water department and hardware stores were flooded with calls for help.

The city received about 20 calls a day from those who wanted their water turned off until pipe repairs could be made, but still water consumption was at an all-time high for this time of year (from 750,000 gpd to 1,124,000 gpd) due to those who left taps open to prevent freezing and damage.

Despite freezing temperatures, t...