A significant water pipeline failure led to thousands of litres of precious drinking water gushing onto the streets of Coimbatore on Wednesday night, causing disruption and concern among residents. The incident occurred near Saravanampatti after a crucial feeder line was damaged, halting supply to several wards.
Pipeline Damage Halts Water Supply
The burst affected the 24x7 feeder line of the Pillur scheme II, which is responsible for supplying potable water to numerous wards under the city's North zone. The timing was particularly unfortunate as the water supply had already been suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday for scheduled maintenance work at the Pillur dam source.
Officials from the Coimbatore City Corporation explained that the damage occurred on Sathyamangalam Road, near Amman Nagar, shortly after valves on the main feeder line were reopened on Wednesday night to resume supply post-maintenance. The initial suspension was part of a routine upkeep operation.
High Pressure and Air Locks Blamed
According to Corporation North zone chairman Kathirvel, the primary cause of the breach was an air lock within the pipeline, which created cracks. When supply resumed with considerable force, the existing cracks were unable to withstand the high pressure, leading to a major rupture and the subsequent flooding.
"The frequent damage of the pipeline happens due to air lock that causes cracks. When supply resumes with high pressure, the cracks become larger," Kathirvel stated. He further clarified that while plans are in place to install additional valves to mitigate such air lock issues in the future, the process has not yet begun.
Repair Efforts and Interim Measures
City corporation crews immediately began efforts to fix the damaged section on Sathyamangalam Road. Authorities have assured residents that repairs will be completed by Friday evening. To address the water shortage in the interim for the affected North zone wards, the corporation has intensified water supply through the Pillur scheme III as a temporary solution.
This incident highlights the vulnerabilities in the city's water infrastructure, especially following routine maintenance shutdowns. Residents in the impacted areas are facing continued water scarcity until the feeder line is fully restored and operational.
