Water main breaks proliferate throughout southeast Michigan in winter’s cold

The scene of a water main break on Duncan Street in 2021. Mirror file photo.

by Marsha Chartrand

You see it everywhere — on local news, national news, in your own neighborhoods.

“Water Main Breaks Causing Flooding, Boil Water Alert Issued.”

And it could be anywhere — Detroit, Bloomfield Hills, Warren, or even Manchester — anytime. They don’t make schedules for these kinds of disasters.

Manchester has been spared the onslaught this January, despite sub-zero temperatures and record cold spells, which are contributing factors to a water main break as the ground moves around frequently and often unexpectedly during the frost season.  The Manchester DPW is fortunate to be experienced and efficient in dealing with the issues surrounding a water main break. The most recent break, on Christmas Eve, was resolved in under three hours and did not require a call to MISS-DIG or a boil water advisory.

The City has recently developed a protocol for these situations and Manager Michael Sessions says it has improved their response time and staff costs, saying, “Everyone can refer to this list and determine their responsibilities for each individual site.”

They have also established a good working relationship with other communities, including the City of Saline, which includes a reciprocal agreement for equipment and personnel. “We all help each other out,” commented Sessions.

Most importantly, the City of Manchester states that it is committed to clear communication with residents, especially the ones who are affected most by a water main break. Sessions takes his own responsibility seriously — knocking on doors and posting and removing notifications (that are always placed on the front door of the home, so be sure to look for it there, even if you don’t frequently use that entryway to the house).

During a more complex break last fall, the City obtained and distributed a case of drinking water for each household that was put under a boil water alert. “It’s all about taking care of our residents,” Sessions concluded.

by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.