BELLE — The Belle water system has experienced three separate water main breaks between late December and early January, prompting repeated repair efforts by city crews, a boil advisory and a school cancellation as students were scheduled to return from the holidays.

According to city information, water main breaks were reported on Dec. 30, 2025, Jan. 5, and Jan. 6, all within a relatively short time span.

The Dec. 30 break required an early morning response by city personnel. Crews began working to locate and repair that broke at approximately 2:30 a.m., and worked for more than 15 hours to resolve the issue in freezing temperatures that dipped down to 17 degrees.

As of Jan. 6, city officials confirmed a boil advisory is currently in place for Belle residents. Due to ongoing water system concerns related to the breaks and pressure issues, school was canceled for Tuesday.

A post shared on the city’s Facebook page early Tuesday morning explained that fluctuations in water pressure can contribute to additional line failures beyond the original break.

“Changes in water pressure can cause stress on other areas of the lines, leading to unpredictable breaks that cannot be controlled,” a spokesperson for the the city said.

The post went on to say that Mayor James (Pudd) Mitchell and the public works team are continuing to work to resolve the situation.

“Our mayor and public works team are working diligently to resolve the issue,” according to the social media post. “We acknowledge the inconvenience this causes and will continue to address each issue as it arises.”

Water main breaks are more common during winter months, when freezing temperatures and shifting ground conditions place added stress on underground infrastructure, particularly older water lines.

Residents are encouraged to follow boil advisory guidelines until the notice is lifted and to report signs of possible water line problems, including unexplained drops in water pressure or standing water, so crews can respond as quickly as possible.