‘For want of a nail, a kingdom was lost’, as Sydney Water and the Bilgola residents found out last month. A tiny corroded section of a main water pipe caused a whole hillside to be flooded, residents to be evacuated, a fire truck to be trapped in a sink hole, and several homes to be left without water.
On May 13, residents of Bilgola woke up to a loud sound, similar to a waterfall. It was a strong landslip that caused a mudslide, broke windows and left mud, rocks and debris in several homes. The water supply to the region had to be turned off progressively to avoid pressure problems.
A fire truck that rushed to the aid of residents became stuck in a sinkhole on the road that was caused by the water damage.
Emergency evacuation
This raised serious questions about the stability of the region and authorities decided to evacuate houses which suffered the most damage. The fire truck was later lifted using a crane and winches while residents stayed at alternate accommodations for several nights.
The stability of the hillside continued to be evaluated by geotechnical experts while cleaners and assessors attended to the homes.
The cause
According to Sydney Water, a minor defect in the protective coating of the pipe led to the collapse. The corroded section, found by investigators, measured just 20cm by 10cm. Due to the coating defect, the surrounding soil caused corrosion and resulted in a section breaking away.
Sydney Water has apologised to the residents and reassured them that the burst would not cause further problems.
Check your water pipes at home
While individuals cannot do much about burst water mains other than reporting it immediately to the authorities, it is important to remember that burst water pipes can cause similar damage, though on a smaller scale.
Using licensed plumbers, like ours at JEDI Plumbing, to detect and repair small leaks can help avoid further damage and an urgent call for an emergency plumber.
Here are some things to watch out for:
- Damp or discoloured carpets, walls or floorboards.
- Water stains on ceilings.
- Wet patches in the garden, portions of grass growing faster or looking greener.
- Unstable concrete or brick paving.
- Spinning water meter when there are no running taps.
Pressure testing or acoustic leak detection tests can help locate leaks in concealed or underground pipes. If a weakness or corrosion is detected in time, patching and relining might be possible for small defects. For larger defects or bursts, the section of the pipe might have to be replaced.
Burst pipes at home
Lack of maintenance is the most common cause for burst pipes. Old pipes rust and weaken over time, and if not repaired in time, breakages can occur. Sometimes frozen pipes or excess water pressure can cause breakages in weak areas.
The other major cause is pipes getting cut or drilled during yard work, which usually happens when the pipe has not been buried at the recommended depth.
If a break occurs, serious damage can be caused to your electrical wiring. If left untreated for too long, it could even compromise the integrity of your home structure.
If you are in Sydney’s North, in the event of a pipe burst you should turn off the main water supply, your water heater, and your electricity supply, and call your emergency plumber, JEDI Plumbing, immediately.
Here at JEDI Plumbing, we encourage our North Shore and Northern Beaches clients to call us as soon as they detect or suspect a leak, however minor they think it might be. Isolating and repairing leaks in time reduces the risk of costly repairs and damages – as the Bilgola event reminds us!
Call us on 0411 774 381 for help with all your plumbing problems.