FEARS are growing that a cold winter snap could push creaking Victorian water sewer systems to the brink - after Yorkshire Water confirmed that work will only be fast-tracked if more leaks occur.
Widespread issues centring on Sackup Lane in Darton have been reported for four years but after a main was replaced in 2021, engineers uncovered further work was required on the same stretch.
Regular repairs have taken place since but councillors fear an inevitable sub-zero snap could push the local network to breaking point.
During really cold weather, the ground temperature drops causing the ground to freeze and contract and this contraction, combined with the pressure build-up, can lead to movement of ground around the main.
This causes stress fractures, or small cracks, to occur allowing water to escape.
Coun Leyla Nayeri, who represents Darton East for the Liberal Democrats, urged Yorkshire Water to fast-track work after bosses declined a meeting.
“As winter sets in there are concerns of further leaks on a section of water main installed in Victorian times that is prone to bursting,” she added.
“There are regular repair works here which causes major disruption to a main bus route, the school and for residents.
“It’s time that the network was upgraded - rather than patched up - to put an end to this chaos.
“I am disappointed that no action will be taken for at least 18 months and requested that works are brought forward - I requested a meeting with Yorkshire Water to discuss the matter further.
“It is such a shame that they are not considering how integral Sackup Lane is to the highways infrastructure and the level of chaos which follows the frequent bursts on this water main.
“I and residents will be keeping our fingers crossed that there are no more major bursts this winter as temperatures plummet.”
Many older pipes - predominantly Victorian-installed - are made from cast iron which is more brittle than modern ductile iron or plastic water mains.
Yorkshire Water’s programme of works will eventually see all mains replaced or renovated to more modern materials, which engineers believe will see a reduction in future bursts.
A spokesperson added: “The majority of the bursts were previously on a section of main at the bottom of the hill and this section of main was replaced in 2021.
“However the bursts are now happening on a different section of the main.
“We are therefore building a scheme for a mains renewal between April 2027 and March 2028.
“We appreciate this may sound like it is far into the future, however we need to manage our mains renewals closely to minimise disruption to customers as we are replacing over 1,000km of mains over the current five-year cycle to 2030.
“Further, we have prioritised renewals based on age and frequency of bursts so we can replace the oldest and most prone-to-bursting sections first.
“Please do keep reporting bursts, not only does this help save water but it will also mean that the Sackup Lane main may increase in priority.
“We are not able to reprioritise the works unless there are additional bursts.”
