Job Summary – Mandible Street, Alexandria
Our client contacted Everyday Plumbing regarding a significant water leak located beneath Mandible Street, Alexandria. Sydney Water had advised that the leak was likely from a fire service pipe supplying water for firefighting purposes. The leak was positioned in the centre of the road and occurring at a considerable rate. The client had also received a Notice to Comply from Council.
We were engaged to investigate and confirm that the leaking pipe was the client’s fire service, determine responsibility, and assess repair options. The system had been shut down to prevent further damage to the roadway.
Due to the road’s busy nature and limited access (single lane each direction in a mixed industrial and residential area), Council did not permit daytime works. As a result, all works were carried out at night to ensure safety and traffic management compliance.
Initial works involved tracing the pipe to accurately locate the source of the leak prior to excavation. Saw cutting, excavation, and non-destructive digging (vacuum excavation) were carried out to expose the pipe.
Upon inspection, the pipe was identified as an old steel line with significant corrosion, making repair unfeasible. A full replacement was required.
We replaced approximately 25 metres of pipe from the connection point on the opposite side of the road to the building. At the client’s request, the new pipe was upsized to allow for future capacity upgrades.
Works were completed over multiple nights and included installation of new copper pipework, backfilling, and full restoration of the roadway. New hydrant infrastructure and backflow prevention devices were also installed in accordance with current regulations.
