NOVI, Mich. – The city of Novi said residents can expect water pressure to return after a 42-inch water main break Thursday.
Water from the break poured down 14 Mile Road and into a nearby creek, likely sparing homes in the area from heavy damage.
In a Facebook post, the city said the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) has successfully isolated the break, and residents should now notice improved water pressure.
However, pressure may fluctuate and might not yet be at full strength due to high demand, especially this morning.
Work crews have been on site all day patching a hole in the broken water main that disrupted water service and forced businesses to struggle to stay open.
An outdoor water use restriction remains in effect.
Residents are asked to turn off irrigation systems to help reduce demand on the water system.
While the system is stable, officials recommend filling bathtubs or containers with water as a backup in case service is interrupted again.
The water pipes in Novi date back to the 1970s, raising concerns about aging infrastructure beneath the surface.
Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash said while some parts of the county have older infrastructure, the 50-year-old pipes in Novi should not be causing this level of disruption.
“So, there’s a lot of older infrastructure. Some communities, like Pontiac, their underground infrastructure is between 80 and 120 years old,” Nash said. “So, they had sewers before parts of Detroit did. But here again, 50 years old shouldn’t be having this kind of effect yet.”
Residents who were without water Thursday remain under a boil water advisory.