Engineering, Environmental Services & Works
News Release
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The recent prolonged period of cold weather has resulted in frost penetrating to a sufficient depth whereby some water services have frozen.
To date, a number of water services have frozen both on the City and the private side of the water service.
Property owners who have had prior problems with frozen water services are immediately advised to start running a cold water tap on a continuous basis until at least the end of March, or until further notice.
The water should run in a steady flow, approximately the diameter of a pencil, and the tap should be signed or fixed so that it cannot be turned off accidentally.
Properties with little or no snow cover between their buildings and the watermain are particularly vulnerable to freezing.
Where a property owner or resident suspects they have a frozen water service, they should immediately call the Public Works Dispatcher at 705-474-4340.
City staff will be dispatched in order to determine whether the water is frozen on the City side or on the private side of the property line.
Please also note that past practice of the City supplying temporary water connections from a neighbouring house through the use of hoses, has been discontinued because it was in contravention of Drinking Water Best Practice considerations.
Commercial or multi-residential property owners who are on a water meter are advised to call the Public Works Dispatcher at 705-474-4340 in order to request permission to run their water service so that water consumption bills can be adjusted accordingly.
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