Parkdale residents told to keep water running to prevent pipes freezing due to project delays

Residents in Parkdaleare being told to continuously run their water as long as temperatures are below 0C after delays to the water-pipe improvement project mean temporary pipes are still above ground.

Dipping temperatures had some customers experiencing frozenpipes earlier this weekbecause the temporary water line runs above ground and is prone to freezing as a result.

Donnie Gallant, aParkdaleresident since 1970, had frozen pipes on Sunday and Monday.

"What are we going to do when it's really cold? What's going to happen next week and the week after," he said.

"Once it drops to zero, you don't realize you have to keep your tap on. If the water isn't running in your houseit'll freeze instantly and you'll have no water," saidParkdaleresident, Phillip Crawford.

The city says residents may have to run their water until Christmas though the city will cover that cost.

The city also says it doesn't know how much water is being wasted in the process.

Project expected to be finished in December

The water-pipe improvement project is on track to be completed by Christmas after aninitial mid- to late-fall finish date, said RichardMacEwen, manager of the Charlottetown water and sewer utility.

Workers are relining existing water pipes, using a no-dig technology the city hopes will extend the life of the lines by 50 years.The $4.5 million sewer project aims to reduce water-main breaks in theParkdalearea.

MacEwensaid the lining phase of the project is expected to be finishedFriday.

Residents are encouraged to contact the contractorFer-Pal Infrastructure about water pipe issues. If necessary, the contractor willcome and thaw their pipes.

Snow could also bring some temporary challenges to customers along the water line.

"Depending on how much of it there is and whether or not we have snow removal contractors going out. But the contractoris meeting with snow removers to advise them of the lines in the area," MacEwensaid.

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With files from Isabella Zavarise