DETROIT – As an arctic blast hits Detroit, the city is asking people to watch out for water main breaks.
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department says they are seeing an average number of breaks for this time of year, but the fluctuating temperatures could cause a spike.
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Customers are being asked to use the 24-hour emergency Maintenance and Repair Center hotline to report any water main break they see. The customer relations staff will create a work order that starts the process of dispatching DWSD work crews to the scene to determine the severity of the leak or break.
The most acute transmission line will receive priority attention.
The amount of time it takes to repair a break depends on whether their is a "crack-around" the circumstances of the pipe or whether water pressure has caused an older pipe to burst.
Residents or businesses in the area are notified if water services will be restricted while the work is being performed. A lack of water could result in a safety hazard, especially in homes where there are children and elderly.
A call to the Maintenance and Repair Center hotline will significantly lessen the potential water emergencies, 313-267-7401.