01-40_WC_149_JUL-AUG26_PT - Flipbook - Page 26
INFRASTRUCTURE
an appropriate standard of care in its
response. The convergence of variables and
technical details surrounding these events
make a thorough forensic investigation
crucial for answering both questions with
certainty.
An experienced forensic engineer and
expert witness can be pivotal for claimants,
bringing unbiased credibility to complex
disputes that demand technical insight.
Their specialized knowledge is critical to:
ESTABLISH CAUSATION. Forensic
investigations provide the technical
analysis needed to gain clarity on
overlapping risks, determine the cause
of the failure, identify contributing
factors, and clarify each stakeholder’s
responsibilities.
ASSESS RESPONSE TIME AND RESOLUTION. A
forensic expert has a unique lens for
analyzing a municipality’s response
timeline, operational decisions, and
mitigation efforts to determine whether
they align with applicable service
standards and represent appropriate efforts
to prevent damages.
The ripple effects of water main breaks
When a water main bursts, the race to identify,
contain, and repair the issue begins. Isolating a break
usually requires closing multiple valves to maintain
partial service, but a number of challenges complicate
and prolong this process. Valves may be seized shut
from corrosion, buried under soil or pavement repairs,
or moved during construction without updated
records, delaying measures to stop or control the flow
of water. This expands the flooded area, increases the
severity of water damage, and elevates the likelihood of
cascading failures, such as damage to adjacent utilities
or contaminated backflow.
Recovering losses requires technical evidence
The downstream economic impacts of water main
breaks prompt disputes over losses, liability, and
recovery costs, notably when there is extensive
property damage or a history of repeated breaks in
a certain area. These disputes—typically initiated by
insurers or their legal counsel—revolve around issues
of causation and whether the municipality exercised
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WATER C AN ADA • JULY/AUGUS T 2026
CONFORMANCE TO INDUSTRY
STANDARDS. Water main breaks occur
routinely, but repeated failures within the same
section of pipe or delayed rehabilitation efforts may
indicate deferred responsibility. A forensic investigation
can help determine whether the municipality had
prior notice of elevated risks and whether reasonable
corrective measures were taken.
SUPPORT EFFORTS TO MITIGATE BUSINESS
LOSSES. Without forensic analysis and an expert
witness who can present and objectively defend their
findings, disputes are argued on the basis of competing
assumptions rather than hard evidence. Sound
technical insights strengthen the credibility of claims
and improve the ability to recover business losses.
Allocating responsibility
Water main breaks represent far more than isolated
infrastructure failures. They are the symptoms of
interrelated challenges in aging systems, emergency
response protocols, and long-term risk management.
In water main disputes, forensic investigations are the
foundation for fact-based arguments—illuminating
valuable evidence that informs what went wrong, why,
and how responsibility should be allocated.
WATERCANADA.NE T
Getty Images
Pumping water away from 昀氀ooded houses and road.
