City of Iqaluit looking into water discolouration
No health concerns with change in water colour resulting from maintenance work, city says
City of Iqaluit workers will be replacing valves on Tuesday morning, and the city will shut off its water supply while this work is being completed. (File photo)
There are no health concerns resulting from the discoloration of water Iqaluit residents might notice at home or work, according to an announcement made by City of Iqaluit public works clerk Sue Avery Tuesday afternoon. The water is safe to drink.
“Discoloured water is often the result of a change in the system’s water flow,” said the announcement emailed Tuesday just before 5 p.m. City and Nunavut Health Department officials are working on together on the discolouration issue which resulted from valve repair work earlier in the day.
“If you notice discoloured water in your household or place of business, you should run your cold water tap until the water becomes clear,” it added.
It was the third announcement the city issued in a 24-hour period to tell people about the impact of maintenance work that took place Tuesday to replace valves.
On Monday, residents were notified that work would require a city-wide shutdown of the water system between 9 a.m. and noon on Tuesday.
The announcement previously said there would not be a boil water advisory associated with the shutdown, but that changed Tuesday with an update from the city.
On Tuesday, the city issued a boil water advisory.
“The city recommends all water used for consumption and dental hygiene is brought to a rolling boil for a minimum of one full minute,” states the announcement.
“The City of Iqaluit will release a public service announcement when the boil water advisory is lifted.”
The city had shut off its water supply in order to replace some valves.
“This work will ensure that valves are functioning as intended which will allow staff to better isolate sections of pipe during water shutdowns for future repairs,” Monday’s announcement said.
I hope the octane levels don’t change again …
Why dont do maintenance in summer when its warme?
Sounds like preplanned maintenance, can anyone explain why these types of maintenance is not being done in the summer? Why would the city be doing this in the dead of winter? Also i hope they have not contracted companies for digging work, as this is money in the bank for that company if they did, all preplanned maintenance should be done in the summer as a cost effective measure!
During summer time the pathogens, coliform bacteria is more active and fecal coliform
What I find a bit hard to believe is that this valve replacement was not planned a little bit in advance so that everyone could plan for a water shut-down with a bit more notice. I don’t know, but making a decision that shuts down most of Iqaluit for a half day shouldn’t be made at 4:00 the day before.
You must be new to the city? All decisions are made last minute and there is absolutely no foresight into anything. The most competent people tend to be those at the bottom of the ladder.
How is it, that in the capital of the territory, after countless water issues, the city can still manage to bungle communications on a simple shut down? Initial notice just before close of business the day before, on social media only, when you should have all ratepayers’ direct contact information available to you. Then you went past the 12pm restore time. Then the water was brown (I had to waste a large volume of water that you will undoubtedly be charging me for, just to get to clear). Then your release says in one sentence that the water is safe to drink, then further down you tell people to boil it. Is anyone paying attention to what is going on at this horribly run office?
“the water is safe to drink” but they still haven’t repealed the boil water advisory?