Keelung Road Work Accidentally Bursts Water Pipe, Spewing Water 4 Meters High

A significant water pipe rupture on Chenggong 1st Road in Keelung City, Taiwan, caused a dramatic spectacle around noon on July 8th. A contractor, while engaged in road resurfacing work, accidentally struck and broke a buried water main, unleashing a powerful jet of water that shot approximately 4 meters into the air.

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The water pipe was buried shallowly, and it was accidentally dug up when a contractor was paving the road.

The incident occurred near the entrance of the Chenggong National Housing complex. Local councilor Chen Shih-feng was immediately notified and promptly contacted the water company to dispatch repair crews. The forceful spray of water created a considerable disruption, highlighting the shallow depth at which the water pipe was laid.

The Taiwan Water Corporation's First District Management Office confirmed they received the report around 12:30 PM. Their personnel arrived swiftly to manage traffic and shut off the water valve. Repair equipment reached the site by 12:50 PM, and work commenced to fix the damaged 80-centimeter diameter pipe. The rupture resulted in a temporary suspension of water supply to 1,249 households in the vicinity.

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The water company received a report of a water leak at the intersection of Chenggong 1st Road and Lane 133 around 12:30 PM.

Water company officials stated that the pipe had been temporarily backfilled following previous replacement of old pipes. They acknowledged that the contractor inadvertently hit the user water pipe during the road surface excavation. The company plans to instruct contractors to exercise greater caution during future road paving operations. The repairs were completed shortly after the incident, restoring water service to the affected residents.

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The contractor inadvertently dug into the user water pipe during road surface excavation.