With temperatures forecast to drop below zero this weekend, the Illinois American Water company reminds its customers to protect their pipes from freezing.
Spokeswoman Karen Cotton says the best way to prevent that is to open the tap so there's a "trickle" of water overnight.
"Sometimes we'll get calls that customers don't have water and they make the assumption that there's an issue with their water service, maybe that we're working in the area or that something like that is occurring. And usually this time of year when that happens and folks haven't run their water overnight it's because their pipes have frozen."
She also recommends opening the cabinets that contain any pipes so warm air from the house can keep them from freezing. Homeowners also need to protect pipes in their basements that happen to run along exterior walls. Illinois American also reminds business and home owners to clear snow and ice away from fire hydrants in their neighborhoods so firefighters can easily find them.
The company and its subsidiaries serve the Iowa Quad Cities, Clinton, Andulusia, and Peoria.
