Metro Detroit water main break raises questions about Mid-Michigan infrastructure

[transcript] Nothing is more vital to all of our livelihoods than water. A water emergency tonight in Oakland County, a 42-inch water main has ruptured in Auburn Hills, forcing Governor Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency schools had to be closed. Water restrictions are in place, and crews are working around the clock to fix it good evening. I'm Ann. I'm Rick. News 10's Rachel Fulton is live in studio tonight with how local officials say this crisis is also raising questions about the water systems right here in MidMichigan. Good evening, Ann. Cities across the state are finding more aging infrastructure every year. Unfortunately, without new technology, utility companies usually find out about water main breaks when they happen, and the damage is already done. I talked with a local public works department and state leadership about what that damage is causing and why the state legislature needs to change rules surrounding infrastructure. On average, we have about 20 main breaks a year. It's a recurring issue in every system. In Oakland County, what started as a leak turned into a state of emergency. It's exposing how fragile some of Michigan's underground infrastructure can be. What's unfortunately occurring in Oakland County right now is, you know, kind of the worst possible circumstance that you could have in such a large system. The massive rupture in Auburn Hills left thousands of people without reliable water access. Here in MidMichigan, Meridian Township Public Works and Engineering Director Dan Opsimer says it's also a reminder that every community is working against the clock. All of these assets, whether it's a water main or a water tower, they all have a finite life cycle and they do need to be replaced in order to ensure that they're functioning properly. Before a pipe fails, finding the problem is usually the biggest challenge. There is new technology where essentially you have a hydro drone that you can send into the main. But until technology like that becomes more common and affordable, many utilities still rely on visible warning signs before crews can respond. Senator Sarah Anthony describes it as a financial squeeze. She says keeping infrastructure updated is becoming more expensive for communities, already balancing tight budgets. Opsimer says one advantage in MidMichigan is the ability for systems to back each other up during emergencies. Being a smaller system, we have the benefit of having a lot of redundancies where we can loop the system so that a break in one location usually will leave very few people with limited pressure. Even though much of this infrastructure is invisible, it's a vital component of how cities thrive. In Auburn Hills, crews have removed the damage section of the pipe that was ruptured. The Great Lakes Water Authority says installation of the new pipe is expected to be completed by Monday and back to you at the desk. Rachel, thank you. Officials say repairs could take up to two weeks. In the meantime, residents in affected areas are asked to use water only for essential needs.