DETROIT (WWJ) - As dry, hot conditions continue across Metro Detroit, officials say residents running sprinklers, filling up pools and more are causing a major strain on water lines and leading to 40 water main breaks in Detroit.
WWJ's Mike Campbell reported live for the scene of one water line break on Prevost between Trojan and Hessel St, off 8 Mile and the Lodge Freeway, on the northwest side where water bubbled up from the cement early Tuesday morning.
"This is the second time now and some residents say they have low water pressure. Others might say they have none," Campbell reported. "It isn't that big of a leak, but it's bubbling up through the cement."
It's just one problem area out of 40 others, Campbell said, and crews are frantically try to keep up.
According to Gary Brown, the Director/CEO of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, additional contractors were brought in to help the city battle its water woes and fix all the issues -- but its going to take time.
"They're just asking people to be patient because they can't get to all of them," Campbell said.
Brown said via WYXZ that the dozens of breaks all over Detroit are due to increased demand on the water system not only from events like the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix that ran over the weekend, but mostly due excessive sprinkler use and irrigation as dry, hot conditions continue to grip Metro Detroit.
The last time the area saw rain was a sprinkle on May 20.
"We were looking at 700 million gallons per day," Brown said of water usage. "We haven't seen that type of volume in a number of years."
Back in the Lodge Northwest neighborhood, Campbell said the road is still passable, but there's so much water under the ground that its sweeping through cracks in residents' driveways.
"The driveway is not usable at this point, but everybody can get around. It's just a matter of inconvenience," Campbell reported.
According to its website, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) maintains 2,700 miles of water distribution pipes (water mains) and 3,000 miles of sewer collection piping.
The city said it hopes to have all the breaks fixed in the news few days.
If you need to report a water or sewer emergency, please call 313-267-8000 and press option 4, or use the Improve Detroit mobile app.
