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Public Works director: Royal Oak has had 'over 50' water-main breaks this year
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Summary
During National Public Works Week recognition, Public Services Director Kevin Yi told the commission crews handled park cleanups, hydrant flushing and multiple water-main breaks, saying the city has experienced more than 50 water-main breaks this year and attributing the uptick in part to a very cold winter.
At the May 12 meeting recognizing National Public Works Week, Public Services Director Kevin Yi summarized recent Department of Public Services activities and told the commission the city has seen an unusually high number of water-main breaks this year.
Yi said crews handled a park cleanup, hydrant flushing and subsequent emergency repairs. In response to a question from a commissioner, Yi said, "I believe there's been 50 this year. It's been an excessive amount or over 50." He attributed the high figure in part to a very cold winter and frost in the ground that stress aging pipes.
Yi described crews working at odd hours — at midnight to flush hydrants and at 3 a.m. to line fields for athletic leagues — and noted DPS also manages an extensive portfolio of infrastructure, including miles of water mains, sewer lines, streets and sidewalks.
Commissioners thanked DPS for emergency response work and for recent lead-service-line replacements the city has carried out to comply with state mandates. No new funding requests or specific repair schedules were recorded in the meeting transcript; commissioners voiced appreciation and encouraged continued maintenance and communication with residents.
