Some residents in Wallaceburg have been forced to boil their water all week, after a water main break in the south side of town.
Lilly Snobelen, supervisor of compliance and quality standards for the Chatham-Kent PUC, said the incident occurred on Monday morning.
“There was work being done and a valve broke in the area on Albert and Earl,” she said. “That resulted in no water along a section there including some side streets… Henry, Robert, Brock, Edwy.”
Snobelen added: “When there is any doubt that it is not 100 per cent sure that there is no contamination, we request a boil water from the Health Unit. They are the ones who issue it, it is also reported to the Ministry of Environment. We have done those two things and the Health Unit has issued the boil.”
Snobelen said letters were delivered to the effected homes, before the water was turned back on.
“That allows us to make the repair,” she said. “This is done to standard, which prescribes the cleanliness of the repair, and the rules and conditions. We made the repairs and this allows us to flush the lines and turn the water back on, so there is water to the area… but, before we turn the water on we deliver a boil water advisory letters so the residents know not the drink it until we get two consecutive sets of clear samples.
Snobelen added: “We sampled at the site upstream and downstream two consecutive sets. Those are plated and being incubated and when we get two consecutive clear sets, we will notify the Health Unit, then they will rescind the boil based on these clear sets. The testing is done by an independent laboratory.”
Snobelen said she is anticipating to have the results of two consecutive tests by Friday.
Snobelen said anyone in the area can call 519-436-3280 to listen to an automated update on the boil water advisory.
