NewScientist The Last Word

The cold snap we're experiencing in Britain at the moment has made me ponder this. Answers from my friends and relations so far have included:

Because the water is moving (But how does this stop it from freezing?)

Because the water is under pressure

Because the temperature is above zero underground

Beacuse of the otters that the water companies keep swimming around in the pipes (I think this one was a joke)

So...why doesn't the water in the mains pipes freeze when it is below freezing point outside?

(no votes)

Categories: Planet Earth.

Reply	MikeAdams#367 says: Pipes are buried deep enough that the soil temperature is above freezing. How deep depends on where you live, in Connecticut 2.25 M is sufficient, in Saskatchewan it needs to be 3 M. The other factors are unlikely to be important (though I am not so sure about the emplyees swimming in the pipes: they might give off quite a bit of heat) (no votes) Tags: weather, water, pipe, freeze.
	posted on 2010-01-25 18:03:12 \| Report abuse

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