Pie IX Water Main Burst of August 12, 2002

The water main break that occurred August 12, 2002, at 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of Pie IX Blvd. and Jean Rivard St, has cost the city of Montreal approximately $1.6 million for repair work as well as emergency measures that were offered to citizens. As well, a total of 333 claims were filed totalling $7.8 million. To date, 184 claims have been settled totalling $1.9 million.

When the pipe, measuring six feet in diameter, burst, it resulted in the flooding of 250 residences, including 40 that were deemed to be uninhabitable. More than 22,000 residents were deprived of drinking water for 10 days in the Rivière-des-Prairies district. The water main burst also resulted in a substantial reduction in water pressure in Montreal North, Anjou and Pointe- Aux-Trembles.

Immediately following the rupture, the city put in place several emergency measures designed to meet the needs of citizens affected by the flooding and the interruption of the delivery of drinking water. For example, the Etiennne Desmarteau Centre was designated a shelter offering various services including food, clothing and medication. Approximately 40 people slept at the centre the first night and were subsequently transferred to a nearby motel. Between August 12 and August 20th the city distributed more than 1.2 million litres of drinking water.

A comprehensive follow-up and analysis of the rupture concluded that road salt was the principal cause of the event. It was determined the salt eventually seeped into the concrete through run-off water. This effectively led to the corrosion of the cables causing them to rupture when combined with existing water pressure. It wasn't an isolated case as six similar ruptures involving the same type of water main occurred between 1968 and 1984. Corrective measures were taken starting in 1987 involving the application on the outside of the cables of a coating made of various resins that are resistant to the road salt. The Pie IX water main was installed in 1981.

Alan DeSousa, member of the executive committee responsible for sustainable development, said that since 1999 the city has introduced a new method for checking for wear and tear in the network as part of an effort to reduce the number of incidents.

"Now, because we are much more aware of the problem, we must identify the areas where measures must be taken to ensure that incidents like the one that occurred last August don't happen again. We also are taking the necessary steps to improve the delivery of water in the area affected by the water main burst last year so that they don't have to depend on only one main pipe."

Source: City of Montreal