This morning the Water Department responded to operational issues caused by frazil ice accumulation at the intake for the drinking water treatment plant. Operators responded quickly and no outages or significant pressure drops were experienced in Town. These issues have now been resolved and the drinking water system has returned to normal operations for the Town of Collingwood.
The Town appreciates the cooperation and understanding of our customer municipalities New Tecumseth and Town of the Blue Mountains through this event, including the assistance from Town of the Blue Mountains who provided some treated water supply. Water supply to these municipal customers is being restored.
The Town would also like to thank all Collingwood businesses and residents for doing their part to reduce unnecessary water use and preserve stored water for fire fighting.
At this time, with the predicted rise of temperatures today, overnight and into tomorrow, the re-formation of frazil ice is less likely. Operations will continue to monitor, and the Town will notify the public of any further action if needed.
Posted at 3:00 p.m. January 22, 2025
This morning the Water Department is managing operational issues caused by frazil ice accumulation at the intake for the drinking water treatment plant. Operators continue to work to resolve the issue; however, at this time, treated water production is limited. The Town has paused providing water to our customer municipalities. We ask that residents limit unnecessary water use for today and into the evening. This will help preserve our stored water for fire emergencies. We appreciate any action you can do such as saving your wash loads for another day and limiting toilet flushes and showering.
The Town will provide an update at 3:00 p.m. today.
Frazil ice is the thin layer of ice that forms on open, calm water, usually on clear nights when the water and air temperatures plummet. It consists of loose, randomly oriented needle-like ice crystals. Unlike solid ice, frazil ice sinks quickly increase in size and easily adheres to things like intake structures. The buildup of ice then restricts and/or blocks the intake of water into the water treatment plant.
The Water Department monitors the drinking water system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Water Department at 705- 445-1030, 3302.