OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. \u2013 Oakland County residents are one step closer to letting their faucets flow.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been four days of water restriction since the main break.<\/p>\n
The new pipe was installed and is being tested. But more work needs to be done.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what residents need to know:<\/p>\n
Built to last 100 years, broke in 50<\/p>\n
The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) confirmed Tuesday that the damaged pipe has been replaced, marking a major milestone in a crisis that triggered a state of emergency across multiple communities in northern Oakland County.<\/p>\n
But with roughly 80 miles of the same type of pipe still running underground across the region, the question on everyone\u2019s mind isn\u2019t just when the water comes back on. It\u2019s whether this could happen again.<\/p>\n
The broken pipe was a pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe, or PCCP. It\u2019s a highly engineered, multi-layered pipe installed in 1975 that was specifically designed to last 100 years. It failed at roughly the halfway mark.<\/p>\n
GLWA CEO Sue Coffey said the pipe was considered the gold standard when it was put in the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a multi-layered pipe and at that time was the best engineering choice\u2014no doubt about it,\u201d Coffey said. \u201cBut this pipe is degrading. We\u2019ve seen it in other places faster than what it should.\u201d<\/p>\n
Located roughly 25 feet underground in Auburn Hills\u2019 River Woods Park, the pipe first showed signs of trouble on May 6, 2026, when crews identified a leak and began working to reroute water.<\/p>\n
But the situation escalated quickly. The line ruptured at approximately 1:30 a.m. on May 10, triggering a state of emergency and cutting water service to thousands of residents and businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are experts in this type of pipe. This is a highly engineered pipe. It shouldn\u2019t be breaking like this. We\u2019ve seen it here. We\u2019ve seen it elsewhere. We need to understand what is exactly happening,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Officials believe the pipe may have had a manufacturing defect \u2014 an anomaly that caused its internal pre-stressing wires, which give the pipe its structural strength, to deteriorate far faster than expected.<\/p>\n
Because the pipe carried a projected 100-year lifespan, it wasn\u2019t even scheduled for its next detailed inspection until 2030.<\/p>\n
The old pipe has since been pulled from the ground and is being shipped to a lab for analysis.<\/p>\n
As the investigation unfolds, work to restore full water service to affected communities continues.<\/p>\n
The damaged pipe segment has been replaced with a new high-pressure steel pipe, which officials describe as the best available option.<\/p>\n
Officials say pressure could be restored as early as Thursday. Full restoration is not expected until Sunday or Monday at the earliest.<\/p>\n
–> Built to last 100 years, broke in 50: Investigation into Auburn Hills water main failure<\/a><\/p>\n Boil Water Advisories still in effect<\/p>\n Boil Water Advisories are still in effect for the communities affected: Orion Township, Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills.<\/p>\n –> What you can and can\u2019t do under a boil water advisory, explained<\/a><\/p>\n In Pontiac, residents are asked to avoid outdoor water use to reduce strain on the system. Higher demand can contribute to low water pressure in the city and nearby communities and may reduce water available for firefighting. Residents are urged to limit water use to essential needs only until the break is repaired.<\/p>\n