Alessandria water supply disrupted after pipe rupture; utilities seek damages

On Tuesday afternoon a major water pipe of about 400 mm in diameter burst in Alessandria, cutting water service to a large part of the city for roughly three hours. The rupture occurred while work was being carried out on a district heating installation; the contractor Lseche, hired by energy company Iren, inadvertently damaged the pipe despite having prior surveys.

Sogeri, the company that manages the municipal water network, announced that it would seek compensation from Lseche on behalf of Iren. The burst caused a massive outflow that emptied the main reservoirs on Via Don Bosco and Regione Aulara. Emergency crews isolated the damaged section, restored pressure within about 90 minutes and activated reserve wells to maintain supply. By nightfall the two reservoirs began refilling, and the network was expected to return to normal operation without further inconvenience to residents. Officials stressed that the incident highlighted the frequency of such accidents and the need for clearer responsibility among contractors and utility providers.