The Process of Repairing Water Main Break

A broken water main is one of the worst things a homeowner could imagine. The damage caused by water often takes time and money to repair. However, the time spent without water is very distressing to the family. Bottled water is recommended in such conditions but it does not provide the same level of ease as turning on the tap.

Water main could break for a number of reasons. Weather is the most common reason of a broken water pipe. The severity of weather, particularly cold is enough to put high strain on the pipe carrying water. In cold weather, water freezes and puts immense pressure on the pipe.

However, cold is not the only reason of broken pipes. Corrosion is another enemy that causes many broken water mains, particularly in urban settings. Given the continuous flow of water in the pipe, it is natural that some wear and tear will happen over time. When this happens, water finds the weak spot and burst through.

The process of water main break repair starts with informing the proper authorities about the incident. In many cases, this is often the local water supply agency. The most important thing to do under the circumstances is to shut off the water supply valves in the location. This prevents loss of water and formation of mud at the location of the break. This mud complicates the location and the process of repairs.

Once the crews are n place, the second step in the repairing process is the location of the spot where the break has occurred.  Usually, the spot is indicated by a small puddle. In many cases, water could take a different route and emerge at some place other than the leak. This is way pinpointing of the place of the leak is important.  

Once the leak has been identified, the crew contacts the local utilities management for the identification of other utilities. This is important because there is a very strong possibility that other utility lines could be damaged during the excavation and repairs process. Although care is taken to separate water and gas mains at the time of original lying of the pipes, mistakes could happen. This is why it is important to completely turn off the utilities before proceeding further.

Once the area is safe, actual work could begin. Construction machinery is used for excavating a trench to the water pipe. Meanwhile heavy pumps are used to clear away the water so that the crew could actually repair the leak.

Once the leak has been repaired, the crew flushes air and residual debris from the pipe using the water from the nearest hydrant. Once the pipe is clean, it is filled with water and reconnected to the system.

The crew refills the trench with gravel and apples a temporary patch. This patch is made of cold mix asphalt and is good to go for a short time. The contractor responsible for road repairs is on standby and moves in to apply a permanent repair.

The process of water main repair follows a strict protocol and is often an ordinary issue in urban localities.