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The water department will issue these warnings if there is concern of any contaminates in the water. Boil Water OrdersĪlso pay attention to any water boil warnings. You should also limit your water use until the repair is complete. If a water main breaks in your area, your first step should be to contact your local water department to report the issue. The water main is then repaired and the road and/or sidewalk put back together.įrom the beginning of repair to the end takes about 6-8 hours. The pipe is then excavated and the water re-routed to minimize service disruption. How are water main breaks fixed?Īs soon as the problem is reported and inspected, the affected area is blocked off if there is damage to the road or sidewalk.
Water main break crack#
This changing pressure on the pipes will create a hole or crack at weak points in the main. Sudden changes in temperature will cause the ground to contract (when it’s cold) or expand (when it’s hot).
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Water main breaks are caused by a combination of the ground temperature and the water temperature. Pressure in the water main causes water to continuously flow, so when a leak occurs, water will continuously run until the issue is fixed. These pipes usually run under the streets and sidewalks.Ī water main break occurs when a hole or crack in the pipe causes water to move to the surface. What is a water main break?Ī water main is an underground pipe that carries water from your area’s water source to your service pipe. Here is a breakdown of water mains are, how they break and what you need to do during and after repairs. When a water main breaks in your area, there are certain steps you should take in order to protect you, your family and your plumbing system from potential damage and contaminates. While it’s one thing to deal with plumbing issues in your home, it’s another when outside occurrences cause water issues.
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