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Rain plays havoc with Yarra Valley Water crews repair a burst water main
water mains

 Tuesday 30 November 2010

Yarra Valley Water is gearing up for an increase in water main bursts and leaks this summer, as unusually wet conditions play havoc with water mains across Melbourne.

Tony Kelly, Managing Director of Yarra Valley Water, said
because the majority of soil in Yarra Valley Water’s service area is composed of expansive clay, cooler temperatures and heavy rainfall can cause the soil to expand, pulling pipes out of
alignment.

Similarly, hot weather and low rainfall causes the soil to dry up and contract, again causing pipes to shift, much in the same way that causes cracking in homes over the summer months.

‘While recent rainfall has provided a welcome boost to Melbourne’s water storages, the dramatic shift in weather conditions after 13 years of drought is quite a concern for the preservation of our water mains,’ says Mr Kelly.

‘The situation could become more serious if we see a return to typical hot and dry weather over summer, as pipes will shift again, however we are well-prepared and well-resourced in anticipation of these conditions.’ 

Mr Kelly says Yarra Valley Water has more resources than ever before focused on addressing bursts and leaks, and on taking preventative measures to detect leaks.

‘Attending to bursts and leaks is a very high priority for our business, and we have put on additional resources for this peak summer period,’ he says.

‘This includes more night shift staff to ensure any reports of bursts and leaks can be followed up immediately. Our expanded repair crews are working around-the-clock to help prevent large water loss and to minimise inconvenience to customers.’

In 2009/10 Yarra Valley Water invested approximately $19 million on proactive programs to reduce water losses in its pipes, including:

• Pressure Management Program to reduce excessive pressures in the network;
• Water Main Renewals Program to replace leaking pipe work;
• Leak Detection Program to identify and repair leaking pipes; and
• Main to Meter Replacement Program to replace old and often leaky connections to customers’ homes.

Says Mr Kelly: ‘All reported leaks are prioritised and assessed promptly. Those affecting public safety are the highest priority and are repaired first. This is followed by those that may damage property or lead to the loss of large volumes of water.

‘As bursts are the most crucial, when volumes are very high some of the smaller leaks may take longer than normal to fix.

‘We endeavour to turn off water flowing from a burst or leak immediately, but ask for the community’s understanding that sometimes water may not be able to be closed off instantly; the valve may be hidden under a road for example,’ Mr Kelly explains.

‘For those customers who may be inconvenienced when the water is turned off to repair a burst or leak, bottled water or water that can be collected from a hydrant will be made available,’ he added.

Mr Kelly is calling for residents to be part of the response by calling in faults quickly and accurately through Yarra Valley Water on 13 1721 or 13 WATER (92837).