Waterloo Region shuts off critical water pipe for week of repairs

A large, critical water pipe that supplies some 20% of the drinking water to the Region of Waterloo is set to shut off for one week while repairs are completed, regional officials announced.

The region has nearly 500 kilometres of water pipes that deliver water for drinking and emergency services to Ontario communities such as Kitchener, Waterloo, northwest Cambridge, St Jacobs, Elmira, Breslau, Mannheim Village, Shingletown, West Montrose, Conestogo and St. Agatha.

“We will continue to monitor our water supplies to ensure we have enough to service these impacted areas and meet our emergency needs, and we’re going to rely on our community to help,” announced Mari MacNeil, director of Water and Wastewater Service for the Region of Waterloo. “Reducing all water use for the next week will go a long way to make sure we have enough supply.”

Local officials are asking residents and businesses to reduce water use as much as possible between August 19 and 25 to ensure the water supply remains at appropriate levels during repairs.

The day after the Region of Waterloo expects to complete the repairs is the same day that the City of Calgary intends to shut down the South Bearspaw Feeder Main to facilitate further feeder main repairs until the end of September. Calgary will return to Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions.