Watermain swabbing in Coldwater starts September 29

Before the watermain swabbing on your street begins, you should:

• fill a container with tap water for drinking and cooking and store it in your fridge
• complete dishwashing, clothes washing, and any activities that use water before the watermain swabbing is scheduled to start
• fill your bathtub with water for use around the house
• use a pail to transfer water to your toilet so you can flush your toilet
• turn off any water treatment systems, including water softeners, or shut off the main water supply using the shut-off valve located at your water meter

Once the work is completed and the water has cleared and is no longer discoloured, you can resume all regular activities, including drinking. Discoloured water in itself does not pose a health hazard, however, if the water does not clear up after running your tap for a few minutes please contact us.

While the watermains on your street are being cleaned, you should:

• avoid using water, including hot water because it will likely be discoloured
• avoid washing your clothes or doing dishes with discoloured water as it may cause stains

After the watermains on your street are swabbed, you should:

• run cold water through the tap closest to your water meter until the water is clear (don't use a tap with a filter system because the sediment may clog the filter)
• once the water is clear, turn on your water treatment devices, flush each tap to remove discoloured water, and flush toilets

The sediment in the watermains consists mostly of iron and manganese oxides. These oxides are heavy and will settle on the bottom of watermain piping during periods of normal water use.

Visit the Watermain page on our website at severn.ca/watermains. This is where we post any updates to the schedule. Subscribe to our News and Notices to stay informed about municipal programs and projects at severn.ca/news.