The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission is asking residential water customers in Chatham to minimize non-essential water use from Monday, August 24 through Friday, August 28 while repairs are completed on a major water transmission line supplying the Chatham Water Treatment Plant.
Residents can continue using water for normal household needs, including drinking, cooking, bathing and other essential purposes, but are being asked to help conserve the community’s water supply by reducing or postponing activities that use significant amounts of water. Those activities include watering lawns and gardens, washing vehicles, driveways or outdoor surfaces, filling or topping up swimming pools and hot tubs, and other non-essential tasks that require large amounts of water.
There is currently no impact to the safety or quality of Chatham’s drinking water, and the treatment plant continues to operate normally. The commission said the conservation request is a precautionary measure to help maintain adequate water supplies while the repair is completed.
As part of the work, Charing Cross Road will be closed to through traffic in the immediate area of the repair site. Residents whose properties are within the affected section will continue to have access to their homes but will not be able to travel through the worksite.
Industrial, commercial and institutional water customers are also being contacted directly and asked to reduce water consumption where possible and consider rescheduling activities that require significant amounts of water.
The commission thanked residents and businesses for their co-operation and asked customers to continue conserving water through the end of the day Friday, August 28.
The Ontario government recommends residents keep a fully stocked 72-hour emergency preparedness kit, including bottled water with tracked expiry dates and four litres per person per day on hand for drinking, food preparation, hygiene and dishwashing. Further updates on the Chatham repair work will be provided if conditions change or additional action is required.
