Watermain Scrubbing Begins Today In Parts Of Barrie

Annual event to clear sediment from the pipes

Watermain scrubbing begins today in parts of north Barrie – from Bayfield east to St Vincent and from Livingstone East to the northern city limits.

This is a process that removes sediment and build-up in the watermains. This sediment is derived from naturally occurring minerals in the water and gradually builds up on pipe walls.

Residents and businesses may experience some water discoloration for short durations following outages and should follow these guidelines once watermain swabbing is completed:

  • Turn on a cold water tap and let the water run for a few minutes.
  • Do not choose a tap that has a water filter connected to it, or the sediment may clog your filter.
  • Do not use a hot water tap because it could draw sediment into your hot water tank.
  • Collect some water in a light-coloured cup or container to see if it is clear. Proceed to use the water if it is clear. If the water doesn’t clear in 5 minutes, wait 30 minutes and try again.
  • During the outage, water pressure will come and go, but please do not run any water during this time period as it could cause large quantities of sediment to plug your service/plumbing/appliances etc.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Water is cloudy because air captured in the water forms tiny bubbles. These bubbles are harmless and will disappear if the water sits for a few minutes. If water is still discoloured after two to three hours, call the City of Barrie Water Operations Branch at 705-792-7920.[/perfectpullquote]

Apartment property managers, landlords and business operators:

  • Turn on a cold water tap near the water shut off valve (e.g. a tap in the mop sink in the maintenance room) and let the water run for a few minutes.
  • Collect some water in a light-coloured cup or container to see if it is clear.
  • Restore water to the rest of the building only when the water is clear.
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