The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has extended water restrictions as repairs to a main transmission line continue.
On Monday, August 24, the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (PUC) asked residential water customers in Chatham to minimize non-essential water use through August 28. That was then extended to several surrounding communities, including Grande Pointe, Pain Court, Jeannette’s Creek, Dresden, Tupperville, Thamesville, and Kent Bridge.
Effective Saturday, August 29, officials have asked that residents into those communities limit water use to essential purposes only as the system experiences significant supply challenges.
While tasks such as drinking, brushing teeth, and flushing toilets is permitted, residents are asked to stop any other water use, including:
- Showering and bathing
• Doing laundry
• Watering lawns and gardens
• Washing vehicles
• Filling pools or hot tubs
• Other non-essential uses of water
Officials say storage reservoirs are approaching critically low levels and the system is at risk of losing pressure. Reducing consumption immediately will help stabilize the system and provide the time necessary for full water production to resume.
Industrial, commercial and institutional water customers are also being contacted directly and asked to significantly restrict their water consumption. Some large water users are shutting down or rescheduling production and other activities that require significant volumes of water.
Businesses whose operations involve significant water consumption, including car washes, dog washes and laundromats, are being asked to voluntarily close for the day. Restaurants and other significant commercial water users are also being asked to reduce or cease water-intensive operations wherever possible to help preserve the municipal water supply and maintain system pressure.
The Municipality is also shutting down municipal operations that require significant water use in the impacted communities, including splash pads, arenas and municipal pools.
These restrictions are intended to be a short-term measure while the water system stabilizes following the transmission line repairs.
