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What the PUC is up to this week

NEWS RELEASE PUC SERVICES ************************* PUC weekly corporate activity notice SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – PUC wishes to advise the public of the following activities for the week of May 25, 2015.

NEWS RELEASE

PUC SERVICES

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PUC weekly corporate activity notice

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – PUC wishes to advise the public of the following activities for the week of May 25, 2015.

This notice is organized into four sections; Electrical Line Clearing (Tree Trimming), Water Infrastructure Renewal, Water Operations Activities and Unidirectional Flushing Program.

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 by our line-clearing contractor Wilderness Environmental Services 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 May 25 – May 29, 2015, with the exception of customer requested tree removals, all tree-trimming activities have been deferred.

This deferral is necessary to allow our line-clearing contractor to assist Algoma Power Forestry crews in preparing an area for an electrical infrastructure upgrade.

Normal tree-trimming activities for PUC will resume June 1.

Water infrastructure renewal

This year’s Water Infrastructure Renewal Projects (Street Reconstruction) will be commencing soon.

The PUC will be working with city staff to keep affected customers informed on the following renewal projects:

  • Upton Road (from Queen St E to Wellington St) 
  • Kensington Street
  • McMeeken Street (from Churchill Blvd to Elizabeth St)
  • Elizabeth Street (from Queen St E to McMeeken St)

Water operations activities

Operational activities for the week are:                       

Upton Road – Temporary Water Supply 

  • A temporary water supply for the Upton Road reconstruction project will be connected to the existing mains. This connection is dependent on satisfactory temporary water supply system test results.

McMeeken Street – Temporary Water Supply 

  • A temporary water supply for the McMeeken Street reconstruction project will be connected to the existing mains. This connection is dependent on satisfactory temporary water supply system test results.

Elizabeth Street – Temporary Water Supply 

  • A temporary water supply for the Elizabeth Street reconstruction project will be connected to the existing mains. This connection is dependent on satisfactory temporary water supply system test results.

Annual Hydrant Testing

  • Testing has commenced for the city’s approximately 2500 fire hydrants. This work is necessary to ensure all hydrants are functioning properly. Testing will occur across the city throughout the summer. There will be no hydrant testing on weekends and holidays.

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.

Customers are asked to contact PUC Customer Service should they experience discoloured water or any unusual change in water quality. 

Unidirectional flushing program

PUC water customers are advised that the Unidirectional Flushing (UDF) Program for 2015 is commencing in the east end of the city.

Customers are encouraged to visit the PUC website at www.ssmpuc.com for regular updates and to see a map(s) of the flushing area.

The UDF Program is performed in order to remove sediment from within the city’s watermains and is a recognized industry best practice for improving water quality.

East End

  • UDF flushing area for the week of May 25 – 28 will occur in the area generally bounded by Trunk Road to Chambers Avenue and Gibbs Street to Dacey Road.

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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