Here in Bromley we seem to be suffering from an increased number of burst water mains, causing traffic chaos and a further strain on our water supply.
The prolonged dry spell in the South East of England is directly responsible for the surge in water leaks. The dry ground is causing soil movement and increased stress on pipes.
The South East of England has a high concentration of heavy clay soils. Clay acts like a sponge, expanding significantly when wet and shrinking heavily during prolonged dry weather. As moisture evaporates from the ground, the soil contracts, cracks, and loses volume. This process is known as soil desiccation.
The underground water mains are embedded directly within this shifting soil matrix. There is differential movement as the soil does not dry or shrink evenly. One section of earth may drop or pull away faster than the section next to it, subjecting buried pipes to bending, pulling, and shearing forces.
A large portion of the UK's water grid consists of older, rigid cast iron or brittle clay pipes. These materials cannot flex. When the surrounding earth moves or hardens like concrete, the stress causes these older joints to pull apart and the mains to fracture
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