Winnipeg, MB - The City of Winnipeg is advising residents that they can stop running a tap continuously to prevent a frozen water pipe. Notices to residents at about 10,000 properties will be mailed out over the next few business days. This includes the 2,596 properties at which a frozen water pipe was reported since November 2013, along with 7,320 properties that were identified as having an increased risk of a frozen water pipe.
Tim Shanks, Manager of Water Services, says, “We have been closely evaluating all the available data, which shows that it is very unlikely that water pipes will still freeze. There have been no new reports of frozen pipes since June 6. As well, we have not found frost in excavations we have made under pavement since June 19.”
Shanks adds, “A small number of properties (13) remain on our list of frozen water pipes. However, all of these have site-specific conditions that are not representative of the risk to the community-at-large. This group includes properties that are vacant that we can’t gain access to confirm whether the pipe is still frozen, and properties that have unique plumbing or pipe related issues where thawing has not been successful and further investigation is required to rule out other possible causes of no water (e.g., leak on the water pipe).”
Residents advised by the City to run a cold water tap continuously to prevent the water pipe from freezing will have their utility account adjusted up to a maximum of 1.5 cubic metres per day (1,500 litres per day). This will be based on the volume of water used while running water compared to normal water use, as long as the Utility Billing Centre receives two meter readings (one at the time a tap was initially left running to prevent freezing and one when the running was stopped).
Because higher than usual call volumes are expected at the Utility Billing Centre over the next several weeks, customers are encouraged to provide the following information by email at utilitybill@winnipeg.ca or by fax at 204-954-1758:
- water meter reading
- date of water meter reading
- address
- phone numbers (day and alternates)
Customers that do not have access to email or fax can phone the Utility Billing Centre at 204-986-2455 to provide the information.
The Utility Billing Centre hours of operation are:
- 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday
- 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday
- 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, except Saturdays on holiday long weekends
Customers can see the stop running water notice (which will also be mailed) on our website at City of Winnipeg - Water Service Notice.
For information about billing related to frozen water pipes, residents can:
- visit our website at City of Winnipeg - Water and Waste
- contact our Utility Billing Centre by phone at 204-986-2455 or by email at utilitybill@winnipeg.ca