City watermains to get spring cleaning beginning April 21

Press release.

Guelph Water Services will begin the spring phase of its Watermain Cleaning Program on Monday night. Watermain cleaning in the affected areas will be completed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. to minimize impact on customers. This maintenance work is scheduled for completion by Friday, May 16.
Customers in the affected neighbourhoods will receive hand-delivered notices before watermain cleaning begins on their street. During the cleaning process, customers in the affected area may experience discoloured water during the cleaning process and are advised to limit water use. 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.
Watermain cleaning ensures that customers receive the freshest water possible by removing accumulated material from the watermain and minimizing the occurrence of discoloured water.
No chemicals are used during watermain cleaning. A swab of bullet-shaped material is placed into the watermain and pushed along by water pressure. As the swab passes through the watermain, it scours the sediment inside. The watermain is then flushed with high-velocity water from hydrants to remove loose sediment.
For more information about the Watermain Cleaning Program or discoloured water, contact Water Services at 519-837-5627 or visit guelph.ca/water.