Starting on Monday, the City of Courtenay’s Public Works Services will be flushing water mains in parts of East Courtenay. Work zones will include:
• Along Mission Road and side streets, including Queneesh Elementary School.
• The commercial and residential area on the north corner of the Ryan and Lerwick Road intersection to Crown Isle Boulevard/Silverdale Crescent, including the Home Depot complex and Costco.
• The residential area on the south corner of the Ryan and Lerwick Road intersection to Evergreen Avenue, Malahat Drive and side streets.
Flushing is planned from Monday, Feb. 19 to Friday, March 9, on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
During flushing hours, households and commercial properties in the area may experience temporary, short-term water pressure fluctuations, along with cloudy water or discolouration.
“Water main flushing improves water quality by removing sediment, silt and organic material that may have accumulated in the water lines over time,” said Kyle Shaw, the City of Courtenay’s manager of transportation and utilities - maintenance. “It helps protect the safety and quality of our water and enhances the disinfection process, so it’s a very important part of our regular maintenance.”
While flushing will occur over a large area during this time period, water to individual properties should only be affected for a limited time, typically less than an hour.
Activities such as laundry and dishwashing should be scheduled outside of flushing hours. To clear discoloured water, run cold water taps. If after one hour the water still does not clear, contact Public Works Services for assistance at 250-338-1525, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. or the after-hours emergency line at 250-334-2947.
The City thanks area residents and businesses for their understanding during this necessary maintenance. Commuters are reminded to drive with caution around crews and obey traffic control personnel.