Woodstock completes water repairs, but boil order continues
As province completes water-test protocols, town extends boil order until at least Tuesday
Woodstock utility crews completed repairs of a significant water main break on Saturday, Feb. 17. Still, water-testing protocols require a boiling order to remain in place until at least Tuesday, Feb. 20.
A press release issued by the town on Sunday, Feb. 18, provided an explanation and update of the ongoing water supply problem.
It explained a split on the 10-inch main trunk line feeding the Eastwood water reservoir occurred on Friday, Feb. 16, around 4 p.m., quickly draining the Eastwood water reservoir.
“Quick work from public works staff by isolating lines kept the water loss to only people fed from the Eastwood tower,” the release explained.
The town explained that public work crews, assisted by a private contractor, finished the main line repairs at approximately 6 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, allowing the task of filling the drained reservoir and water mains to begin. This was completed around 11 p.m.
“As soon as a water main and, in this case, also a reservoir is dewatered, the town utility working with the Department of Health implemented a boil order for the Eastwood water system,” the town explained. “To lift a boil order, provincial protocol calls for two sets of samples taken 24 hours apart and sent to an accredited lab for analysis.”
The press release explained that because of the large zone affected by the break, the protocol requires six individual samples.
The town said crews gathered and delivered the first samples to RPC in Fredericton on Sunday, Feb. 18
It explained crews will gather and deliver more samples on Monday, Feb. 19.
“Assuming all 12 of these samples have no traces of coliform, the boil order should be lifted Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the afternoon,” the town release explained. “At this point, the public will be notified that the boil water order has been lifted. Again, thank you to the residents of Woodstock (Ward 4) for your patience.”
The water main break and affected area included a large section of the north end of Woodstock. A map issued by the town with affected streets highlighted in yellow shows the area, including much of Connell Street and Main Street and all connecting streets.
