Broken Water Mains Keep City Busy

Josh Pringle
Friday, May 9, 2008

The City of Ottawa says it deals with water main breaks under city streets every month.

City Crews are called on to fix over 300 water main breaks a year.

Breaks on Rideau Street near King Edward Avenue and on Elgin Street infront of Ottawa Police headquarters this week have created headaches for city staff, residents and commuters.

Manager of Water and Wastewater Services Dixon Weir says the pipe that ruptured on Rideau Street was installed in 1885, adding the pipe had been perfect during its 123-year lifespan.

Weir told reporters of the approximately 200 km of the cast iron pipes installed across the city, 25 km are older than 95 years.

Ottawa's water main infrastructure is valued at $4.2 billion in total. The 2008 City of Ottawa capital budget has set aside $45 million for repairs and renewal.

Weir says the City of Ottawa has a priority list of projects to replace aging water pipes.

City Council approved a nine per cent a year increase in water bills over three years to help replace aging water infrastructure.