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Some Quebec City residents will have to restrict their water consumption for at least 10 days as crews scramble to repair a major water supply pipe break.
On June 21, the city announced that a major drinking water supply pipe had broken near Rue de Chamerolles in the Les Rivières borough. Mayor Bruno Marchand told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday that about 35 per cent of Quebec residents must conserve water while crew workers pinpoint the source of the break.
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“We need the citizens concerned to reduce their water consumption so that we can maintain water quality… and ensure that everyone can get through these days safely and be capable of meeting their (water) needs,” The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph reports Marchand as saying.
Repair work is expected to start Wednesday at 7 a.m. in the Les Rivières borough and last until July 5.
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The break will affect water supply and quality in 12 different sectors across five boroughs, where about 175,000 people live.
The municipality has enforced a ban on residents in these areas to protect the quality of drinking water and reduce the risks of cloudy water episodes.
For the first two days, the city is asking residents to conserve water. The city recommends residents stockpile 48-hours worth of bottled or pre-filtered water before Wednesday morning.
Residents are prohibited from using household water for outdoor activities, such as watering the lawn, washing vehicles and filling pools.
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Christine Beaulieu, director of the water quality and laboratory section of Quebec’s water treatment department, says regular surveillance will be done to make sure residents follow restrictions, according to the CBC.
Residents caught washing their vehicles or plants will receive a notice and face fines from $1,000 to $2,000.
The city also intends to suspend its own non-essential water use by limiting street cleaning and plant-watering activities, although public pools and splash pads will remain open.
The 42-inch-diameter pipe is located near Chamerolles Street in the Rivières borough and is one of the three largest pipes in the city of Quebec, according to the Le Journal de Quebec.
Marchand told reporters on Tuesday that fixing the pipe would be a “delicate operation” but emphasized that “we have the teams, the competence, and the expertise” to resolve the situation. The cost of repairs is currently unknown.
In the meantime, he encourages residents who notice cloudy or discoloured tap water to call 311 and report it. City of Quebec health experts say there should not be any major health issues for citizens.
“If we all work together, it is possible that there will be no noticeable effect for citizens,” he said.
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