Skip to content

PUC President responds to brown water complaints

PUC Services Inc. suspects an unauthorized person, tampering with a fire hydrant, led to water woes for many residents of Sault Ste. Marie’s east end Tuesday evening.

PUC Services Inc. suspects an unauthorized person, tampering with a fire hydrant, led to water woes for many residents of Sault Ste. Marie’s east end Tuesday evening.

A number of residents in that area of the community began calling the PUC around 5 p.m. Tuesday regarding yellow and brown water running from their kitchen taps, in their washers and toilet tanks.

PUC Services Inc. President and CEO Dominic Parrella told SooToday.com early Wednesday afternoon that PUC crews were out until approximately 2 a.m. Wednesday morning working to rectify the problem.

Parrella contacted us in regards to the problem shortly before PUC Services issued an official media release.

“I can understand people being upset,” Parrella told us.

“We’re asking the public if they see any unauthorized person other than Fire Services personnel using a fire hydrant, to call us.”

“This time of year,” Parrella explained, “people are filling up their swimming pools, and it has been known in the past that someone will connect a hose to a hydrant and fill up their pools from the hydrant.”

“Hydrants are only for Fire Services to use.”

“When you open up a hydrant, “ Parrella explained, “it draws a lot of water in a very short time and it reverses the flow in the pipes over a large area.  It disturbs all that sediment, so we had PUC crews out flushing until 2 a.m. this morning.”

Parrella told us the PUC believes the problem has now been cleared up.

“We haven’t received any more calls today.”

Parrella said the water discolouration problem was widespread, and spread from Texas Avenue and Silverbirch Drive to Boundary Road, and added that Louise Avenue, Centennial Avenue, Birchwood Street, Carlbert Street and Simon Avenue were among other streets affected by the water problem.

The full text of a release from the PUC follows.

**************************
Brown water complaints - East end of city

This information is provided in response to inquiries received from water customers regarding the brown water coming from their taps yesterday evening (May 7) around 5 p.m.

The issue was not a result of any activities performed by PUC on the water distribution system.

Since the brown water condition was widespread across a large part of the east end of the city, the cause was a sudden change in direction of flow of water in the distribution pipes.

PUC suspects this was caused by unauthorized use of a hydrant somewhere in the east end.

Hydrants, whether on the street or on private property, are not to be used for any purpose other than fire fighting by the Fire Department, or flushing by the PUC.

PUC has set up four specific hydrants across the city for use by commercial water haulers with a permit and City Public Works trucks.

These designated “bulk water loading hydrants” are located at:

  • West side of Peoples Road south of Fourth Line next to the cemetery,
  • 260 Elizabeth Street in front of John Rhodes Centre,
  • 670 John Street just north of Salvation Army residence, and
  • 616 Goulais Avenue at the West End Community Centre.

PUC requests the public to notify PUC Customer Service (705-759-6522) should they notice anyone, other than PUC or Fire Department, using any hydrant that is not a designated bulk water loading hydrant.

Discoloured water is the result of a change in flow direction which stirs up pre-existing sediment that has been collecting for many years due to internal corrosion of cast iron pipes.

The sediment, once disturbed, can remain suspended for quite some time.

In most cases the discolouration will clear up with 15 to 20 minutes of flushing.

In 2012, PUC completed a Unidirectional Flushing (UDF) Program throughout the entire east end of the city.

This is considered one of the best methods to improve water quality.

However, it will take several complete passes through the system in order to achieve long term lasting results.

This Program was suspended for the winter, but will resume in the east end starting later this May.

Consumers that do draw discoloured water need not be alarmed.

While PUC does not recommend anyone consume discoloured water, the water is and will remain safe for use at all times.

Anyone that does draw discoloured water should flush their cold water faucets only (preferably a laundry tub or bath tub without screens or filters) for up to 15 minutes to clear the lines before calling PUC.

Do not run the hot water, in order to avoid filling your hot water tank with discoloured water.

If the water does not clear up after at least 15 minutes of flushing, please call Customer Service at 705-759-6522 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 705-759-6555 at all other times.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause our customers, and wish to thank everyone for their understanding and cooperation.

**************************


What's next?


If you would like to apply to become a Verified reader Verified Commenter, please fill out this form.




Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
Read more