No one wants to be without something as essential as running water—one of the most basic amenities we need for our everyday lives.

But that was the unfortunate reality for thousands of Adelaide's south residents after a water main leak left them without water supply for a couple of days.

A major pipe that runs through Lonsdale Road was forced to close due to the repairs needed to address the leak.

Authorities made the call to switch off the water early on Wednesday, 25 October, potentially causing serious issues.

This meant showering, flushing toilets, and business operations couldn't be done as they normally would be.

Hairdresser Leanne Buechter complained, 'I've had to do 12-hour days to reschedule, inconveniencing clients as well as paying wages for no services.'

Authorities addressed the leak in a major pipe in Adelaide, leading to a water outage. Credit: Unsplash

Schools also followed the same fate, and they were forced to close. However, emergency water tankers were brought into schools to reopen the following morning.

Recognising the significant disruption this had caused, SA Water apologised to the inconvenienced residents and offered compensation.

A General Manager at SA Water, David Coombe, announced that customers will receive a waiver for their next quarterly supply charge.

'We are just working through exactly how that will happen now, but customers won't have to contact us we will make sure we make it as easy as we possibly can,' he said.

‘They will have that information in their bills,’ he added.

You may contact SA Water through their hotline at 1300 SA WATER (1300 729 283) or email them at [email protected].

Should there be a water supply interruption in your area, any person must be prepared to have alternative water sources.

Having bottled water is the easiest and most convenient way to get by during a water outage. Having a water filter in the house also provides an opportunity to purify water you get from other sources.

Anyone must be prepared in case a water interruption happens. Credit: Unsplash

Portable sanitation facilities are also helpful during water outages. Companies sell, and in some cases rent portable toilets and showers. Portable hand sanitisers also come in handy when handwashing with soap and water is not possible.

Water conservation practices are crucial when dealing with limited water supply. Shorter showers, if possible, are a practical move. Turning off the taps when brushing teeth or washing hands also saves water.

Residents could also consider keeping a rainwater collection system as a standby water source.

Most importantly, staying up to date on information relayed by your local water administration office, and adhering to any water conservation notices they issue can ease the burden of the outage.

Broken pipes aside, water shortages in the future may be more commonplace if events elsewhere are any sign of what’s to come.

In a story we posted recently, a mayor in a major Australian city has announced that water restrictions could be introduced by next year. The possibility was due to the forecasts indicating a decline in the city’s water supply. Read more about the story here.

Key Takeaways

• Residents in Adelaide's south have been left without water for two days due to a major pipe leak.
• The lack of water supply affected daily activities of residents and businesses, prompting SA Water to bring in emergency water tankers.
• SA Water has apologised for the inconvenience and plans to waive the next quarterly supply charge for all impacted customers.
• It is expected that the water supply will be restored to all impacted customers by this evening.

What are your thoughts about this story? Do you have any water conservation tips? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[Ezzy]

Collect cold water from the shower or kitchen sink hot water tap into a bucket or dipper for use in the Washing Machine or hand basin.

Place a bucket under the shower, collect the soapy water & flush the W.C. with this. This can be used on the garden or lawn but should not be the only water used there.

In the situation where water is turned off for 2 or more days & the property has a bore, water can be used from there in buckets for flushing the W.C.

Have a wash instead of shower when water is unavailable. Add some perfume or after-shave to the water to mask B.O. & feel fresh.

These are tried ideas that work for us. (except we have never been without water).

 

[Bill MacL]

An advanced warning should have been given so people could have filled bathtubs or containers etc.