Fewer completely without water (4 photos)

Three Sault PUC customers are currently facing daily life without any access to water service, thanks to the sub zero weather the Sault has faced this winter.

But the PUC says fewer Saultites have faced that inconvenience this winter despite recent extreme cold.

"We do have three customers right now without water, which means our thawing attempts have failed and either their neighbours won't supply a temporary service, or they are too far from their neighbours for a temporary service to be effective," said Giordan Zin, PUC supervisor of communications, speaking to SooToday Thursday.

The PUC has had 43 calls of frozen water services so far this winter.

At this time last year there were 77 frozen water services.

Despite the bone-chilling cold snaps we've experienced this winter, the number of PUC water main breaks the public and the PUC have faced isn't as high as this time last year.

"Compared to February 28 of last year we were at 69 water main breaks, and as of February 27 of this year we are at 50," Zin said.

The frost depth is currently at 1.4 metres.

Meanwhile, it could take time before those currently without water have their service restored, said Zin.

"Basically we'll have to dig up the service to their house, the main, and try and thaw it that way…obviously that takes a lot of time and resources, and until we have the resources available to do that, they'll be without water."

Customers facing such an inconvenience have to stay with friends or family until the water woes in their own homes are fixed.

"We're looking at digging up water main services for at least two of the customers," Zin said.

Zin said he did not have details regarding the third PUC customer.

Customers sometimes notify the PUC they will be spending the winter out of town and are willing to let spring come to naturally thaw their water service, Zin said.

Typically, if a customer's water service freezes and the PUC's repair process is expected to last a few days, that customer would be hooked up to a neighbour's water supply by the PUC with the neighbour's permission while crews work to restore the affected customer's water service.

Neighbours will rarely object to a hook up, Zin said.

(PHOTO: A PUC crew cleans up after a water main break on Wallace Terrace between Second Avenue and Prentice. Michael Purvis/SooToday)