Winnipeg pipes could stay frozen until July

[Mark]

WINNIPEG ─ The side effects of a cold winter aren't coming to a quick end for some Winnipeg residents.
Frozen pipes have been an issue for weeks, and many won't be repaired until July.

Randy Hull, with the City of Winnipeg, said frost could remain deep enough into the ground to keep pipes frozen into June. According to the city, there are 479 homes without water because of frozen pipes with 7,320 considered at risk.

Hull said Mother Nature will play a significant role, determining how quickly the frost beneath the ground thaws.

"We're being very cautious by saying mid- to late-June," Hull said. "Thawing will continue and hose lines will continue into June.

Hull said it's important those at risk continue to implement precautionary measures so as to not add to the queue.

"(Those) at risk need to continue to run the taps until a time that we say it's OK to stop," he said. "...

If people were to self-evaluate or stop next weekend, for example, then they would join the new reports and that would delay the process."

John Kolb was able to shrug it off somewhat, secure with the knowledge his water supply was coming via a hook-up to his neighbour's home.

Kolb, whose home has had frozen pipes for a few weeks, was without water for about five days before he fashioned a hose line to a neighbour.

"I know something out of the blue can happen and, if it does, you've just got to work around it," Kolb said. "But I'm saying that calmly because I have water. If I was hucking jugs around right now, I'd be a little more antsy for sure."

Other residents have had enough, though.

"We're paying for it, ecologically and financially," Kenton Lobe said. "We're treating that water, then we're dumping it down the drain."
   

Sun News : Winnipeg pipes could stay frozen until July

 

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