Detroit crews working to repair dozens of water main breaks throughout the city

Several dozen water main breaks are under repair in Detroit, city officials said Tuesday. 

Gary Brown, Director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, says there are roughly 51 water main breaks in the city, and nine have been isolated and are being repaired. 

Two that were reported Tuesday morning on Detroit's east side are at the intersections of Laing and Grayton streets and of State Fair Avenue and Dequindre Road. A sheet of ice could be seen along Laing Street. Crews dug out manholes so that the street could begin to drain. 

The water main break near Denby High School was repaired by early Tuesday afternoon. 

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has shifted additional staff to isolate, investigate and repair water main breaks. Brown anticipates that crews could repair upwards of 20 breaks per day. 

The water main breaks come as another round of arctic air hits Southeast Michigan this week. 

"When temperatures swing suddenly, whether in a deep freeze or a heat wave, it puts added stress on water mains' increasing likelihood of breaks," Brown said. "Until the weather moderates, we anticipate more water main breaks." 

If residents need to report a water or sewer emergency, call 313-267-8000 or use the Improve Detroit mobile app.   

Elsewhere in the metro area, crews from the Eastpointe Water Department were sent Tuesday morning to the scene of a water main break on Juliana Avenue, east of Virginia Avenue. 

"Residents in the immediate area may experience an interruption to their water service as repairs are being made," Eastpointe officials said. "For the safety of our crew, please avoid the area. Service will be restored as soon as possible."