Port Colborne water tower testing may yield discolouration

Port Colborne residents may notice lower pressure and discoloured water for intermittent periods the next two weeks as the city’s new water tower undergoes operational trials.

The city issued a notice on its website and said the changes in tap water will be the result of changes in pressure and the direction of the flow of water within the water distribution system while the new tower comes into service and the old water tower is decommissioned.

“Tap water during this time continues to be safe to drink and the colour and pressure changes present no threat to public health,” the release said.

It said residents who notice discoloured water are advised to run water from the tap for several minutes until the water clears. People should contact the engineering and operations centre at 905-835-5079 if discolouration or low pressure occurs for longer than 24 hours.

“City and Niagara Region staff will be working diligently to minimize these affects while this work is being completed.”

The new water tower, on Barrick Road north of Elm Street, will hold 1.5 million gallons of water, a one-million gallon increase over the current tower at the corner of Sugarloaf and King streets.

Factoring in water storage at Reservoir Park, off of Elm Street near Rosedale Avenue, will see the city will have 2.5 million gallons of water on tap.

The current tower has reached the end of its service life and will be decommissioned in 2018 and removed. The land it sits on is owned by Niagara Region.