Crews work at the site of a water main break in Troy June 13.
By: Sarah Wright | Troy Times | Published June 16, 2024
TROY — During the installation of a utility pole on Dequindre Road, near Quartz Drive, a Troy water main was struck by a drill, forcing water and debris around the surrounding area.
The city was informed of the situation around 2 p.m. Thursday, June 13.
“The Water and Sewer Division received several phone calls about a large amount of stones being thrown onto Dequindre Road near Quartz,” Troy Public Works Director Kurt Bovensiep said in an email.
Crews investigated the concerns and discovered that a utility subcontractor for DTE was using a truck-mounted drill to install a utility pole and had struck the city 12-inch water main. Water and debris were sent into Dequindre Road due to the flow of water from the break.
“The water main was marked by paint and utility flags, but the contractor disregarded the law requiring them to hand expose any utilities within 4 feet of the utility markings,” Bovensiep said. “The City of Troy will seek restitution for all costs associated with the water main break and repair.”
The Troy Police Department assisted with the situation as the Department of Public Works worked to clean the road once the water main was shut off.
“Our Traffic Safety Unit assisted in closing the road in the area of Dequindre and Quartz until our DPW Streets department was able to bring an arrow board while the repair was completed,” Sgt. Benjamin Hancock, the public information officer for the Troy Police Department said in an email.
As crews repaired the water main, six houses on Dequindre Road were without water until 12:30 a.m. June 14.