This week's PUC activities

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE PUC

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PUC weekly corporate activity notice

SAULT STE. MARIE - PUC wishes to advise the public of the following activities for the week of February 23, 2015.

This notice is organized into three sections; Infrastructure Renewal, Operational Activities and Electrical Line Clearing (Tree Trimming).

INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

PUC is committed to the continual improvement of our water distribution system.

The following is a list of active infrastructure renewal projects currently underway:

• Forest Avenue: The connection of the new section of watermain installed at the intersection of Simpson Street and Forest Avenue is scheduled for late next week. During this process, customers in the area generally bounded by Ontario Avenue to Wellington Street and Pim Street to Upton Road are advised that there is a possibility they could draw discoloured water.

OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Operational activities for the week are:

• Bridge Plaza: A developer is removing a decommissioned commercial water service that fed the old Duty Free Shop. During this process, PUC will oversee the decommissioning and removal of this service.

There is a chance customers in the areas impacted by Infrastructure Renewal or Operational Activities could experience discoloured water.

This is because any time there is a major change in the rate or direction of flow of water in the distribution system, sediment in the watermains can be disturbed and carried along with the water.

ELECTRICAL LINE CLEARING PROGRAM (TREE TRIMMING)

Each year, PUC Forestry Technicians inspect Sault Ste. Marie’s electrical distribution system.

During this process, trees near power lines are trimmed and/or removed as needed to reduce the risk of contact with high voltage electrical wires.

The purpose of this work is to ensure public safety while at the same time improving the reliability of our city’s electrical system by reducing the number of unplanned power interruptions.

Completing this inspection and trimming program for the entire city takes approximately three years.

For the period of February 23 to March 6, 2015, crews will be inspecting and clearing lines on Queen Street East from Fournier Road to Dacey Road including River Road and all side streets in the area.

 The PUC would like to remind all customers that work scheduled for next week is tentative and subject to change due to weather or resource constraints.

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