Update on Jan 29, 2014

Crews repaired the valve and had it operational by midnight.  This involved closing the valve, dewatering thes site, excavating and rebuilding the valve.

Jan 28, 2014

A six-member water distribution crew worked overnight until about 4 a.m. to repair a broken water main on Princess Street, between Portsmouth Avenue and John Counter Boulevard. Further repairs and service disruptions will be required beginning at 4 p.m. today.

We thank residents, businesses and commuters for their patience and understanding when faced with water service disruptions and a road closure yesterday. When the weather gets this cold, and crews are faced with icy conditions, repairs can sometimes take a little longer than we'd like.

The break was due to a corroded hole in a cast iron water main. When the repair was complete and crews fully turned the water on, a valve broke in the system. We plan to repair this valve beginning at 4 p.m. today and expect it will take eight to twelve hours to complete. Crews will work hard to keep the road open to traffic, but water services will be disrupted. Our apologies for the inconvenience and thank you again for your patience.

Effects on water services

Water services at The Parkway and Princess Street from Portsmouth Avenue to the train overpass may be affected. Effects on water services in the area may include temporary reduced water pressure (or no water), as well as brown or discoloured tap water. The latter occurs because activities on the water distribution system can disturb deposits that normally occur in water pipes.

If you notice your tap water is brown or discoloured, please be assured the water is still safe. Flush your pipes until the water is clear again.

1. Locate the cold water tap that is closest to your water meter.
2. Run the cold water until it is clear. This may take 5 – 25 minutes.
3. If the water does not clear, please contact Utilities Kingston at 613-546-1181.

If you have questions or concerns about your water service, please call our 24-hour line at 613-546-1181.

Cast iron water main replacement and relining

Water main breaks most often occur on aging, metal infrastructure. More recently, the industry has advanced the materials and installation practices used, so it’s less of an issue with newer infrastructure.

We are working hard to reline or replace older metal pipes. Over the last four years we have:

• Replaced over 19 kilometres of cast-iron water mains with tough new plastic pipes less prone to leaks and bursts.
• Structurally relined 13 kilometres of water main to create a tough new “pipe-within-a-pipe” (see sample shown at right) that ensures the reliability of the pipe for up to 50 additional years.