Northville residents are facing the aftermath of a significant water main break that flooded streets and homes last Friday. The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) reported to Hometown Life that a 30-inch water transmission main on Baseline Road showed signs of failure around the pre-dawn hours, causing road closures and property damage.
The break was found at roughly 3:30 a.m., leading to a sinkage of the road and local flooding. George Lahanas, Northville City Manager, disclosed to Hometown Life that several houses were compromised, with some instances of water reaching into first floors. Despite the incident, power was shut off as a safety precaution, yet the water supply remained uncontaminated, voiding the need for a boil-water advisory. "At this point, the city's water is in good shape we have enough pressure and enough water flow," Lahanas said. The need to quickly address the break and its impacts was evident as crews were dispatched to manage the situation.
Later that day, the GLWA successfully isolated the break. According to a CBS Detroit report, crews worked to remove water from the area, allowing them to assess and remove the damaged pipe. By Monday, 16 feet of damaged pipe had been extracted and the process to replace it with a new segment was underway.
Completion of the repair and subsequent pressure testing are expected by the end of the week. "Crews plan to have the pipe repaired and begin pressure testing by the end of the week," GLWA stated to Hometown Life. An essential next step will be the disinfection and water quality testing before the main can be placed back into service, projected for the middle of next week.
Amidst recovery efforts, the weather has also been proving to be a complicating factor. A meteorologist with the National Weather Service highlighted concerns regarding the Rouge River cresting, potentially posing additional flooding risks, as reported by Hoodline. However, after a brief respite of dry conditions on Saturday, the forecast indicated further snow showers, adding to the community's challenges.
Lahanas emphasized the extent of the damage, including street integrity loss requiring significant reconstruction, in a statement obtained by Hometown Life. As Northville navigates these disruptions, residents look forward to the impending repair work's completion and a return to normalcy.
