Frozen pipe problem getting worse

127 properties hit as of Wednesday, some lacking water service for 6 days

Ottawa’s frozen water pipes problem appears to be getting worse.

As of Wednesday morning, 127 properties were without running water. Of those, 53 have gone without for more than three days.

Temporary water service has been established at 17 properties.

Those numbers suggest a sharp increase since Friday, when the city reported there were 64 properties without running water due to frozen water-service pipes.

Of the 64 affected properties at that time — a mix of residences and businesses — 26 had been without water for more than 72 hours. Some properties had been without water service for more than six days.

As of Friday — when the city held a news conference to discuss the situation — the current wait time for a thawing crew to arrive was four to six days. The city has acquired new thawing equipment and is testing its effectiveness, according to a memo sent to councillors Wednesday and obtained by the Citizen. The city says it’s also dealing with situations where re-freezing occurs after city crews have been by to thaw pipes.

To prevent pipes from freezing, residents are asked to turn on one cold water tap and run it continuously, 24 hours a day, until April 15, or later, if directed to do so by the city. The stream should be about the size of a pinky finger. Residents should also ensure indoor air temperature is kept above 6 C, particularly near the water meter.

These steps are also crucial for residents whose pipes have already frozen this winter, but have since been thawed, Dixon Weir, the general manager of environment services, said last week.

“These services are still at risk and it’s important that you take that precautionary step.”

The memo to councillors says at this point in the winter, a resident’s lawn is “essentially a large block of ice and the thawing process only unfreezes a small portion of it.”

If residents’ pipes freeze, the city is asking them to call 311. The city will provide bottled water and is letting residents use the shower facilities at any city-owned recreation centre for free.

There are about 2,000 properties in Ottawa with a history of frozen pipes.