Watermain Flushing and Swabbing

• Remove the aerators (screens) from your taps.
• Turn on the cold water tap in the basement laundry room, or the tap located nearest to your water meter and main water shut-off valve.
• Let the water run for 10 minutes.
• Place the aerators back on your taps.

Before the scheduled operations begin, you should:

• Fill a clean container with tap water for drinking and cooking (store in fridge).
• Complete all dishwashing, clothes washing and other water-use activities.
• Fill your bathtub with water for use around the house (you may use a pail to transfer water from the bathtub to your toilet bowl to allow your toilet to flush).

Please try to refrain from using your water when your street is being swabbed.  Many people find it useful to turn off their main water shut-off (at the water meter) before swabbing begins to avoid any inadvertent running of the water - which may result in discoloured water/sediment being drawn into your internal plumbing.

Yes. You can use the drain during this time.

If you turn on your tap during this time, you may experience coloured water and run the risk of damaging your water meter with debris. Make every effort to avoid turning on taps during this time. It is recommended that you turn off your water valve inside your home to avoid accidental water use.

• Run the cold, hard (unsoftened) water tap closest to your water meter (usually located in the basement) until the water is clear. Or, if your garden hose does not go through your softener, you can irrigate your lawn or garden until the water is clear.
• If the water remains coloured, please repeat until the water runs clear. If your water remains coloured, please contact OCWA for assistance at 705-484-5600.
• If you experience lower-than-normal water pressure after the maintenance is complete, please verify if it is just one tap, or throughout your home. If it appears to be at one location only, try removing and cleaning the screen at the tap and run the water until it clears.
• If you experience lower-than-normal water pressure or no water after the cleaning is complete please call OCWA at 705-484-5600. 

The Township uses a number of methods to inform customers of planned cleaning areas, which may include one or more of the following:

• Hand-delivery of notices to each affected residence at least 48 hours in advance.
• Mailed notices to each affected residence at least seven days in advance.
• Information posted on the Township's website and on social media channels such as X and Facebook.
• Signboards in the neighbourhood that is undergoing maintenance.

Once the normal water clarity has returned, all normal uses can be resumed, including drinking the water. Coloured water in itself does not pose a health hazard. The red/brown coloured water is from iron that has built up in the watermain.  

At times, water can have an unpleasant odour, taste, or appearance. These aesthetic characteristics usually do not pose a public health threat and, in most cases, they do not last long. However, a sudden change in colour, taste or odour of your tap water could indicate changing water characteristics. If you notice a strange taste and/or odour persists, please contact OCWA at 705-484-5600.

In order to ensure the highest quality of water for the community, OCWA routinely performs watermain cleaning programs to do a thorough cleaning of the watermains as part of proactive routine maintenance and best practices.