Hydrant Flow Testing

If you live in the Central Area of the city, you may notice PUC Services crews working in your neighbourhood over the next few weeks. They’re conducting hydrant flow tests—an important part of maintaining our water distribution system and ensuring fire safety.

These tests are required under the Fire Code to measure water pressure and flow rates. The information gathered helps ensure firefighters have access to enough water in the event of an emergency.

Why You Might Notice Discoloured Water

During testing, it’s possible for water flow in the pipes to temporarily reverse. This can stir up sediment that naturally settles in watermains, which may cause your tap water to appear discoloured.

If you experience discoloured water, here's what you can do:

• Run a cold water tap (preferably a bathtub or basement laundry tub) for up to 15 minutes. This helps flush out the sediment and avoids pulling it into your water heater.

• If the water doesn’t clear, wait 30 minutes and try again.

• After two 15-minute flushes, if the water is still discoloured, give us a call.

Contact Information

• Regular Hours (Mon–Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.): 705-759-6500

• After-Hours Emergencies: 705-759-6555

We appreciate your patience during this routine maintenance and thank you for helping us keep your water system safe and reliable.