Why Adelaide's water pipes are becoming gushers Burst water main on Sprinbank Rd, Clapham. Repairs to water main burst on Jolly Ave, Northfield. MORE than four water pipes a day are bursting across Adelaide disrupting traffic, leaving residents without water and flooding houses, SA Water data reveals. Official data shows there has been more than 3200 bursts across the city in the past two financial years. The Sunday Mail has drilled into SA Water for a forensic look at where pipes are bursting - going as detailed as bursts on individual streets. The worst affected areas are Adelaide's CBD, which recorded 102 "main failures" in a two-year period, followed by swathes of Adelaide's north-eastern and northern suburbs including Athelstone, Newton, Rostrevor, Clearview, Holden Hill and Ingle Farm. Adelaide's city centre has seen the number of breaks increase from 43 in 11/12 to 59 last financial year - adding to the pain for commuters who are also facing increased traffic delays due to roadworks. Anzac Highway, Plympton recorded the most breaks for a single section of road - nine in a two-year period. While the suburban cul-de-sac of Michael Ave, Modbury North had eight breaks over that time, including seven last financial year. This week a burst on South Tce, outside St Andrew's Hospital forced ambulances to be diverted, many patients forced to park several streets away and extra staff were called in to phone more than 100 patients booked in for the day. SA Water will also replace 270m of pipe in Valley View after residents in Rutherford St repeatedly burst this month leaving residents without water for drinking, showering or flushing the toilet. Water Minister Ian Hunter said $82 million a year for three years was spent on maintaining the pipe system, including mains and sewerage. He said funding increased to $129 million last year. "Despite SA having the most reactive soil, through really good maintenance we have reduced the number of bursts to below the national average," he said. An SA Water spokeswoman said Adelaide's network failure rates compare favourably with those of other Australian major water utilities. "The statewide water main failure rate has been quite stable and reducing over the last few years," she said. This is a result of SA Water's comprehensive, sustainable, asset management strategy for water mains. An SA Water report revealed the change to soil moisture was the most significant factor affecting burst frequency. It showed the majority of main breaks were the result minor cracks and joint leaks. Longitudinal cracks and blow outs that cause the most disruption, however, because repairs typically take longer. FLUSHING toilets with buckets of rainwater and boiling the water to drink - Dianne Page has endured the hardships that come with burst water mains. The Northfield woman lives on Jolly Ave, home to four ruptured pipes last financial year and a few irritated residents. ANGRY: Dianne Page near her Jolly Ave home at Northfield which has had four ruptured mains pipes in the past financial year. Picture: STEPHEN LAFFER Source: The Advertiser Ms Page says she dreams of the day her and partner Rob St Vincent can have a constant, fresh supply of water. "We have had no water supply to our house due to burst water pipes in either our street or Strawson Rd, Harrington Grove, Hoods Rd and Norton St," Ms Page, 61, said. Earlier this year there was also raw sewerage running down Hoods Rd caused by leakage from a burst pipe from the Yatala Prison. The problems prompted her to send a fiery letter to her state MP and Health Minister Jack Snelling asking for a solution. SA Water has crews out repairing damage and water has been restored, but it has not quelled her anger. "Our road currently has two patches of dirt waiting to be resurfaced as a result of the last two ruptured pipes and (the other) evening, yet another one burst," Ms Page said. I am tired of having to get water from our rainwater tanks to boil so we have drinking water and doing the dishes as well as washing ourselves. Even more frustrating is that we have to use a bucket of water to flush the toilet. SA Water data shows Adelaide's northern and inner-northern suburbs are some of the hardest hit when it comes to ruptured water mains. Water pipes are bursting at the rate of one every two days in Adelaide's inner-northern suburbs.