WATERprovider City West Water will now shut off the mains water supply when repairing broken pipes, after the number of bursts and leaks reported more than doubled during January compared with the previous year.
The decision means residents, businesses and other water users could experience temporary cuts to their water service should a pipe burst in their service area.
Water would be turned on as soon as the burst was fixed.
City West Water said service to any given area would only be shut off if there was no risk to public safety, or didn’t largely impact on business, community organisations or services, such as hospitals.
“We ask our customers to understand this short-term inconvenience, which a burst water main may now cause to help save significant amounts of water going to waste,” City West Water managing director Anne Barker said.
Signs will be put up to notify residents of any cuts and where they can find alternative water outlets.
Six extra crews have been put on to repair bursts around the clock, while more staff has been added to take calls regarding faults and emergencies.
City West Water said the overly dry conditions and unstable clay soil across much of Melbourne’s West have contributed to a huge increase in the number of broken pipes, bursts and leaks across the early part of this year.
Last month 550 burst pipes were reported, compared with 242 during January 2006.
Anyone who would like to report a burst, leak or water emergency can call (13 WATER) 139 2837.
