City of Breckenridge remains without water tonight as valve repair fails
By Tony Pilkington and Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
The repair to a water line valve that crews worked on all day isn’t holding, and water service will not be restored to the community tonight, according to Breckenridge City Manager Cynthia Northrop.
“Contractors will return to the site first thing in the morning to assess the issue and determine why the repair failed,” she said in a statement online.
Earlier tonight, the City announced that the repairs had been made to the broken valve and that the City was in the process of re-pressurizing the water line.
“The first step will be to confirm that the repair is holding properly with water running through the pipes,” according to the statement.
The repair failed that test.
The city’s residents and businesses have been without water for two days, following a busted water main in downtown Breckenridge that drained both towers. During the initial repair process, as crews were isolating the leak, a valve leading from the Water Treatment Plant was closed and subsequently found to be broken in the shut position, preventing the water towers from being refilled.
Early this morning, Breckenridge Mayor Bob Sims declared a state of emergency for the city of Breckenridge due to the problem that started Tuesday, Dec. 9, when a contractor laying fiber optics lines hit a water main in downtown Breckenridge. Today, the City and other local entities distributed drinking water, as well as non-potable water for non-drinking purposes, and provided portable toilets for residents’ use.
Breckenridge schools will be canceled again on Thursday, Dec. 11, according to a statement from the school district. “Since water service has not been fully restored, school will be cancelled again tomorrow, December 11th. All classes and on-campus activities will be cancelled,” according to the statement. “We will continue to work closely with City officials and will update you as soon as we receive confirmation that repairs are complete and it is safe to reopen. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we prioritize the health and safety of our students and staff.”
Additionally, the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce has postponed the Christmas Parade that was scheduled for Thursday evening in downtown Breckenridge.
The Breckenridge Texan will continue to provide updates as available.
Cutline, top photo: Crews worked earlier today on replacing a broken valve in the City of Breckenridge’s water system. They finished installing the new valve at around 8 p.m. tonight, but the repair did not hold. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Editor’s Note: This story was updated at about 9:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 2025, to update the BISD and parade information.
