Boil water advisory–water line fixed, but testing continues

A broken water main feeding Port Bruce, Copenhagen, Port Burwell and Vienna as well as customers in between has been fixed, but water quality testing will require at least 48 hours, Malahide Physical Services Director Rob Johnson said Tuesday morning, June 14, so a “boil water” advisory from Elgin St. Thomas Public Health remains in effect for all homes and businesses.

A contractor working on Dexter Line relocation west of Port Bruce inadvertently broke an eight-inch temporary bypass main, being used while the road and adjacent trunk supply line were being moved northward to escape Lake Erie erosion, he said. A total of 1,350 water customers were affected.

Malahide, which administers the Port Burwell Secondary Water System, received word of that on Monday, June 13, at 1:30 p.m., and by 5 p.m. repairs had been made.

Volunteer firefighters and municipal workers delivered notices Monday night to all affected customers before re-pressurization of the 32-kilometre long water line began at 8 p.m.

Pressure was gradually restored, but for now customers were still being told to boil water before using it for drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth and other activities where it was consumed by humans.

Two separate samples had to be taken and processed, requiring at least 48 hours, before the “boil water” advisory could be lifted, he said.

Port Burwell Public School remained open Tuesday, though bottled water was brought in for pupils and staff.

Water fountains had been bagged, and hand sanitizer distributed in place of washing hands with soap and water.