Whitewater Region Township says work to clear out Cobden’s drinking water system will continue into September.
Residents in the village have experienced yellow and brown tints in their tap water since mid-August due to elevated levels of the mineral manganese in Muskrat Lake caused by strong wind, heavy rain, and fluctuating temperatures.
The Ontario Clean Water Agency, which oversees the local water treatment plant, is expected to resume intensive flushing of the water distribution system in the coming days to remove manganese and other sediment that may have recently accumulated on pipe walls.
The process, called directional flushing, requires staff to open and close selected valves and hydrants within the system to create a one-way pathway for the flow to generate enough velocity to scour the pipes and carry the removed material out through the hydrants.
Residents are likely to notice an increase in discoloured water during the flush, particularly as the work begins in a new section of the system, as well as temporary reductions in water pressure.
Township staff and OCWA will update the community on their progress at their Wednesday, September 2nd, council meeting. Meanwhile, residents continuing to experience tinted water are advised to run their cold water taps until it turns clear.
(written by Kasey Egan)
