Town of North Manchester, Indiana

Water Main Breaks

Water Main Break Information

If our crews locate a water main or service line break near your home, repairs may temporarily affect your water service. Since we know that any disruption to your water service is an inconvenience, we've prepared this information to answer some of the questions you may have.

How long will the repairs take?

• The length of time to make the repair depends on a number of factors, including:
• By law, we must call 8-1-1 (North Manchester Water) to request professional locators who mark the pavement for underground gas, electric or sewer lines. We cannot excavate and begin repairs until the pavement is marked.
• How quickly we are able to locate the break.
• Water can travel far underground before surfacing, so some breaks are easier to find than others. The nature of the leak. Until we excavate and uncover the leak we won't know whether the problem is with a valve or the main pipe. Sometimes we can make the repair with a "sleeve" around a leak, but other times we must replace a valve or an entire section of pipe. Sometimes there are other utilities in the way that complicate repairs.
• Crews work as quickly as possible, and in most cases, are able to complete the repair in four to eight hours. Once the main break is repaired, the excavated area must be backfilled and pavement temporarily restored. The temporary restoration is rough but serviceable, and will be completed with permanent restoration at a later time.

When will permanent pavement restoration of the area occur?

• Permanent restoration usually takes place several weeks after the leak is repaired to allow time for any additional settling that may occur as the ground dries out. We check the integrity of the temporary restoration on a regular basis, but if you see settling or "pot holes" develop, please let us know at 260-982-9800.

Will my water be shut off? 

• Water in our pipes is under pressure, but when possible, we can make the repair without shutting off the water. However, when the flow of pressurized water is too great, we need to temporarily shut off the water during the repair work.  We apologize for this inconvenience and work as quickly as possible to minimize the disruption.

Is water quality affected?

• Usually water quality is not affected by the leak. If we suspect there is a possibility that water quality has been affected, we will issue a precautionary boil water notice. This notice will stay in effect until we have time to verify water quality in the laboratory, at which time the precautionary boil water notice will be lifted. However, please note that when water service is restored, you may notice air in your pipes and the water may be rusty, or yellow brown in color. Rust particles accumulate in water mains and can be stirred up as valves are operated and water flow patterns are changed. The discoloration isn't harmful but can stain. We typically flush out the water main after repairs to remove air and rust, but are unable to flush out your individual service line. Just let the water run a few minutes in your home to get rid of the air and color. If the problem persists, let us know at 260-982-9800.