Low pressure and rusty water on Saturday? Blame the major water main break
Two properties went without water for 14 hours while city repaired water main
Kitchener residents experienced reduced water pressure and discloured water during a "significant" water main break Saturday morning. The break happened in the area of Bleams Road and Manitou Drive and affected approximately 150,000 residents.
"There were two commercial properties that didn't have water for about 14 hours while we were doing the repairs, but they have water now," said Tammer Gaber, manager of utility operations for the City of Kitchener, on Monday.
He told CBC News the break has been repaired and the water was turned back on Sunday morning for the two properties.
The broken water main pipe was built with cast iron in 1965 and was "beyond its life expectancy."
"Staff is working to address the backlog of infrastructure replacements as part of the city's commitment to provide safe and reliable water, sanitary and stormwater service for the citizens of Kitchener," said the release.
Kitchener Utilities said the discolouration was from rust or manganese, and advised affected residents to turn on a cold water tap nearest to the water metre, and to leave it running until it turns clear.
Thanks to the dedicated <a href="https://twitter.com/CityKitchener?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CityKitchener</a> staff and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KitchenerUtilities?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KitchenerUtilities</a> workers for the speedy and professional response to today's main break! <a href="https://t.co/hOuXrowHWp">pic.twitter.com/hOuXrowHWp</a>
—@DanChapmanCAOWeather-related breaks
Since the start of January, the city has experienced over 16 water main breaks.
Gaber told CBC News last week the breaks are due to weather conditions and the old age of the city infrastructure.
"Whenever you have freeze-thaw conditions and frost being driven into the ground, we do get breaks at weak points in the cast iron or ductile iron pipe," Gaber said.
The city has been switching to plastic pipes in newer subdivisions that can better weather freeze-thaw conditions.