Recent watermain problems caused the tap water in parts of Vankleek Hill to have an unusual appearance in recent days.
On Friday, February 6, Brigitte Bérubé and members of her family who live nearby at the western edge of Vankleek Hill along County Road 10 noticed the water from their taps was white and had a somewhat soapy appearance and taste. A call was made and voicemail message was left with the Champlain Township Department of Public Works.
Berube said that by the morning of Monday, February 9, the sight and smell of the water had improved slightly.
“The water does settle after 24 hours so it’s mainly bubbles, but there is definitely a taste or a texture to it,” Bérubé said.
She added that her family members were not drinking the water and they were buying water in jugs instead. Bérubé said she sent photos of the water to a local Councillor but had not received a response from the township as of Monday morning.
The Review contacted the Champlain Township and received a statement issued by Director of Public Works Maxime Lafrance explaining the cause of the problem and assuring the public the water is safe.
The statement explains that the department followed up with the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), the provincial agency which operates the water system, and it confirmed that on Thursday, February 5, a transport truck struck a fire hydrant near the McDonald’s by Highway 17 in Hawkesbury. That hydrant is connected to a large watermain, and a significant volume of water was released.
“This high-velocity flow likely disturbed sediments within the watermain, which then travelled toward Vankleek Hill, as our water supply originates from Hawkesbury,” read Lafrance’s statement.
Also, the statement explained that on the western edge of Vankleek Hill, two watermain saddle ruptures occurred as a result of a water hammer event. The final repair to the second saddle was completed on Tuesday February 3. These incidents may also have contributed to sediment being disturbed within the distribution system.
“The water remains safe to drink, and a sampling program is currently in place to monitor and confirm water quality,” the statement continued.
Late in the afternoon on Monday, February 9, Bérubé said her husband contacted the township again and after two attempts, spoke with an individual who expressed concern that the water still does not have a normal appearance one week after the excavation and repair work was done and that further measures will be taken to ensure its quality.
