Water service restored after main break causes sewage backups at Ann Arbor residences
Water service has been restored to the area along Packard Street where a water main break caused sewage backup this morning, city officials said.
As of noon, the main had been repaired and crews were flushing the lines, said Craig Hupy, interim field manager for Ann Arbor. Water is safe to drink and does not need to be boiled. Residents may flush their lines with cold water if discoloration is present.
Hupy said crews are working to repair Packard Street near the intersection with Marlborough Drive, where the break occurred. He said the street is under flag control while the outbound lanes of Packard are closed for the repairs. Crews hope to have the work finished by 4 p.m., he said
Hupy said four homes suffered water damage or had sewage backing up as a result of the main breakage this morning. The affected area was along Packard Street between Kensington Drive and Pine Valley Boulevard and in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Hupy wrote in an e-mail to city officials this morning that crews were on site at the time of the break at about midnight last night to repair a small leak at the location. While turning valves to isolate the leak, the 12-inch main failed, Hupy said. He noted that it was near two other 20-inch water mains and a 16-inch water main.
"It was a sudden failure," Hupy wrote. "Only one lane of Packard Road is passable. Traffic on Packard is currently being flag controlled. An area of approximately two blocks around the Packard and Marlborough (intersection) are without water or low pressure. A wider area has discolored water."
Hupy said a company called Coach's Catastrophe was called in and has been dealing with clean up at the affected homes, while city crews continue work on replacing pipes.
City Administrator Roger Fraser sent an e-mail to the City Council this morning, calling the water main break "significant."
AnnArbor.com digital journalist Ryan J. Stanton contributed to this report.
Comments
thedime
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 10:47 p.m.
If as he says that residents had no water, than there indeed needs to be a boil water advisory. With a complete loss of pressure and an opening in the main, it presents itself with a possibility of contamination. Also, I have to say that the crew may indeed take a GIS location to plot on their system, but a metallurgy test. Hah! What a joke. With detailed prints and information attainable through CIPRA or DIPRA, the department can have a pretty good idea of the integrity of the main. Funding is available through DRWF loans to complete infrastructure improvements. A bunch of people out there who have no idea what they are talking about.
Mike Hulsebus
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 3:44 p.m.
Some times thing go wrong just because things go wrong, not because of some vast city official conspiracy.
racerx
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 2:26 p.m.
@bazzo-what happen to Denny Zink who was the Field Services Mgr prior to C. Hupy? Hupy hasn't worked in the field for Water in years. Hupy was in the Wtr Dept at one-time, but back to the bubble shuffle he was removed and relegated to a office position with Community Development. Doesn't surprise me about knowing where water lines are beneath the surface. During the annexation of township property, some in A2 township that was being annexed into the city, the Field Svcs department had no idea when and if residents tapped into the utility system due to not having camera's. Some residents had hooked up and used water for several months before the city knew about it. And water rates have steadily increased. But, since utilities are self supported and not part of the general fund, money gives McCormick power. Watch out A2, she really wants Fraser's job!
snapshot
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 1:39 p.m.
Mr. Bazzo, Thank you for providing insight into the, all too common, phenomenon of city leaders putting their head in the sand to avoid making real leadership decisions. I submit also that they have been able to get away with this negligence as a result of an affluent and complacent populous. It is time we hold this negligence up for public scrutiny and start providing consequences for those responsible for the continued neglect of infrastructure and fiscal acountability.
Phillip Bazzo, Esq.
Tue, Jan 26, 2010 : 10:46 a.m.
On Friday, Craig Hupy was deposed by our Firm, Macuga, Liddle & Dubin in Detroit as were two other Ann Arbor employees. One employee testified that there was no night shift to address watermain breaks until 2009 - after a watermain break occurred on Yellowstone. Yesterday, our expert in the case testified that there was no known metallurgical evidence generated by the City relating to the condition of Ann Arbor watermain during the break itself. Incredibly, the City does not (a) take pictures of the break and (b) perform a metallurgically investigation of the watermain to determine its risk for future metal fatique and more breaks. Pomona had a series of over give breaks within an 18 month period in 2003 and other subdivisions had had multiple breaks. In general, the infrastructure of Ann Arbor and other communities is deteriorating with no plan for action. Homeowners who are taxpayers continue to be injured by defective infrastructure. Phillip Bazzo, Esq. 248-321-8600
SuperFreckleFace
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 4:38 p.m.
Pavement is extremely rough along Packard at Marlborough. Wouldn't be surprised if it creates fender benders as drivers try to turn left onto Independence.
momzilla
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 1:50 p.m.
The headline conflicts with the last paragraph....is it restored or not?
Pam Stout
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 11:29 a.m.
Pattengill elementary was also affected.
John Galt
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 11:04 a.m.
I don't recall any announcements made to the effect that water needed to be boiled. The city needs to get better at making these announcements.
Spencer Thomas
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 10:56 a.m.
I saw the lights about midnight as I was turning from Packard onto Stadium, so the break must have happened some time earlier.
Mike Hulsebus
Mon, Jan 25, 2010 : 10:38 a.m.
It would seem that things are back in action as of approximately 10:15am or thereabouts.