A cold Monday morning this week had Fuquay-Varina Utilities Department workers back out on the street repairing yet another water line break brought about by the unusually long, unusually cold spell of weather the area has been experiencing.

The break Monday was on West Academy Street in front of the S&K store. It was the ninth since the severe weather started about two weeks ago.

When Utilities Director Jay Meyers reported to the town board on January 4, the number of breaks stood at seven including two mainline and two service breaks. Meyers said when old cast iron pipes are subjected to long periods of below-freezing temperatures the stress on them frequently causes them to crack.

Most of the breaks have occurred in the older parts of town, Meyers said. None has caused loss of water service to large numbers of residents. The town’s master plan calls for replacement of the old lines over time, he said.

Monday morning Chris Grimes, public utilities director of operations, was setting up to repair the West Academy Street break. He said the department has been able to put repair bands on most of the breaks to stop leaks.

Grimes said the current cold spell has been unusual. “I’m not a meteorologist,” he said, “but I think it may have set a record.”