The city plans to start the fall phase of its watermain cleaning program this evening (Sept. 4), with cleaning of affected areas to be done between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. to minimize impact on water customers.
The maintenance work by Guelph Water Services is to be finished by Sept. 28, a news release said. Customers in the affected neighbourhoods will receive hand-delivered notices before watermain cleaning begins on their street.
People in the affected area might experience discoloured water during the cleaning process and are advised to limit water use, the release said. While ingesting small quantities of discoloured water is unlikely to create a health risk, it is recommended that customers wait until water clarity returns to normal before consuming water, it said.
The city has about 600 kilometres of buried watermain pipe to get water to its residents and businesses. Watermain cleaning ensures that customers receive the freshest water possible by removing accumulated material from the watermain and minimizing the occurrence of discoloured water.
Two cleaning methods are used during the watermain cleaning program. To swab a watermain, a soft, pellet-shaped material is inserted into the watermain and pushed along by water pressure. The swab scours the watermain as it travels through the watermain. To flush a watermain, high-velocity water flowing from hydrants is used to remove loose sediment.
For more information, call 519-837-5627.