SPOUT: Water gushes from a burst pipe in Neale Street, Bendigo. Picture: BLAIR THOMPSON
WATER sprayed 20 metres above Neale Street yesterday when a gas contractor ruptured a water main.
Workers from Tenix were installing gas pipes under the road when a Ditch Witch skimmed the top of the pipe, causing water to erupt.
The bucket of an excavator was placed over the top of the pipe in a bid to stem the flow.
The water spout was at the front of Paul Brownlie’s house, who noticed it when checking his mail.
He said a nearby car with an open window had been sprayed before being moved.
“It sprayed above the power lines,” Mr Brownlie said.
“I thought I’d get some photos when it went sky high.”
Nicole Mooney said her daughters Abbyleena and Isabella “screamed out in excitement” when they saw the water.
“We looked out and saw this humungous shot of water,” Ms Mooney.
“They walked in it then wanted to splash and play in the river ... we had a river at the front of our house.
“They definitely enjoyed themselves.
“It’s a great way to cool off.”
Coliban Water staff were called to the site at 11.40am, turned the water off at 12.05pm and repaired the mains pipe with a clamp at 12.35pm, a spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said they were unsure how much water was lost in the incident.