Frequently Asked Questions

I was notified that my water is being turned off, now what?
Please set aside water for use throughout the day. If the water supply must remain off for an extended period than anticipated, water will be supplied to you.

What do I do when repairs are complete?
When your water service is restored, please follow these steps:

• Remove and clean faucet screens from all cold-water taps in your as some sediment may have built up.
• Slowly open your cold-water tap to release air pockets.
• Let water run for 5 minutes or until the water is clear.

I received notice of planned work, but repairs have not been completed yet.
Crews may be redirected from a planned maintenance site if more emergent repairs are needed in other locations. This work can include water flooding the street and creating potential property damage, water pressure loss to neighbourhoods due to a large main break or hospitals, schools, care homes and daycares are at risk of water loss. Please check back regularly for up-to-date information.

I signed up for outage alerts in eWater, but I was not notified via email/eWater when my water was turned off.
The notifications in eWater are part of the City’s Advance Notice Program for planned maintenance of the water system. It is possible the current outage is an unplanned or emergency report due to a break. 

Why is the water cloudy or discoloured after the repair has been made?
When water service is restored, the water may be discoloured and have a slight odour as repairs stir up sediment from the bottom of the main. This disturbed sediment does not pose a health concern. 

If your water is discoloured, it’s recommended you:

• Check to see if the water is clean by collecting a sample in a clear container.
• If the water is not clear within 5 minutes, wait for 30 minutes and retake the sample.
• If the water is still discoloured after the second sample, call 306-777-7000.

What happens after the water repair?
Upon completion of the repair, the trench will be backfilled with a temporary mixture and levelled to the surface to make the site safe. Complete restoration of landscaping, concrete and asphalt affected by water repairs cannot be completed in winter, and may not by complete until the end of the next summer construction season. If the temporary fix becomes a concern due to settling or rutting, call 306-777-7000 and we will attend the repair site.

What is the water maintenance repair process?
Preparation: 1 to 10 days in advance

• Issue Detected
• Utility Lines Marked
• Notices Delievered
• Road Restrictions Requested

Maintenance: 1 day

• Road restriction setup
• Water turned off if required
• Underground work performed (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Clean-up: 1 day

• Water samples laboratory tested
• Water turned back on
• Site clean-up
• Road restriction removed