Leerbeek (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A burst main water pipe on Ninoofsesteenweg in Leerbeek left many homes in Pajottegem and nearby areas without water. De Watergroep is repairing it; issues may last until Saturday.
As VRT News reported, on Thursday afternoon, July 11, 2025, people living on Ninoofsesteenweg in Leerbeek, a village in the municipality of Gooik, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, saw water coming up through cracks in the road. They told the water company.
De Watergroep came quickly to see what was wrong. They checked and found that a big water pipe under the road had burst. This pipe is part of the main water system for the area. When it broke, many homes lost water. The reason for the break is not clear. They mentioned that pipes can break when they are old, when the ground moves, or when there is too much pressure inside.
What caused the Leerbeek pipe burst and water outage?
According to officials, the broken pipe caused water problems in many places. People in Leerbeek, Kester, Oetingen, and Gooik had no tap water at all. They could not drink, cook, or wash. In Bellingen, Beert, Heikruis, and Bogarden, some homes also lost water.
In other areas, the water pressure was very low. Only a small amount of water came from the taps. This made things hard for many people. Officials mentioned that families with small children or older people had a tough time. People who need water for health care also have problems. Many were worried and upset.
According to officials, fixing the broken water pipe is taking a lot of time. The pipe is located under a busy street, so the workers needed to first break into the road with caution to avoid causing more issues. They needed to cut the damaged section out of the pipe with habitat and insert a new piece and also have to be concerned about the rest of the water system’s integrity.
De Watergroep says this kind of repair needs careful planning and cannot be done in a rush. Officials said people might still have water problems until at least Saturday evening, July 12, 2025, depending on how the work goes. Engineers are working in shifts so they can bring water back to the affected areas as fast as possible
The Water Supply Group has shared important advice for residents to avoid problems when the water comes back. People should turn off all taps and avoid using appliances that need water, like washing machines or dishwashers. This is to stop damage that could happen if air or sudden water surges go through the pipes.
They mentioned that it is also important for everyone to follow news from De Watergroep or their local city for updates. If needed, emergency water, like bottled water or tanker,s may be provided.
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