Township of Severn distributes drinking water in serviced areas to residents and businesses through watermains. 

In order to ensure the highest quality of water possible for our community, we routinely perform watermain cleaning as part of our preventative maintenance program.

About watermain flushing

Flushing is undertaken to clean sediment build-up from the underground pipes. Flushing forces water through the watermains at a high speed and discharges it through open hydrants until the water runs clear.

Flushing schedule

We typically flush watermains during regular business hours:

  • Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2024 flushing schedule

Bass Lake Woodlands
  • Updates will be posted when available

Coldwater
  • Updates will be posted when available

Sandcastle Estates
  • Updates will be posted when available

Severn Estates
  • Updates will be posted when available

Washago
  • Updates will be posted when available

Westshore
  • Updates will be posted when available

Notifications

Flushing should cause little to no impact to your water delivery. 

We'll notify customers of the flushing schedule by posting the information on our newsfeed and updating this page. 

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Select the “Subscribe to this page” button located to the right of the page. You'll receive an email notification every time we update the content for this page. This is an easy way to stay informed.

About watermain swabbing

Periodically, when needed, we swab some watermains in certain systems. This involves inserting a foam sponge ('swab') into the watermain through a fire hydrant. The swab is pushed along through the pipes using water pressure to clear any sediment that has built up inside ​the watermain.

Swabbing schedule

We typically flush or swab watermains during regular business hours:

  • Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

It may take approximately two hours to swab and clean the watermains. Some sections may take up to four hours.

2024 Swabbing schedule

Coldwater
  • Now that the work is complete, you should:
    • run cold water through the tap closest to your water meter until the water is clear (don't use a tap with a filter system because the sediment may clog the filter)
    • once the water is clear, turn on your water treatment devices, flush each tap to remove discoloured water, and flush toilets

Please contact us if you have poor water quality, no water or low water pressure in your home after the watermains have been swabbed.

Washago
  • Updates will be posted when available

Westshore
  • Updates will be posted when available

Notifications

We'll notify all customers impacted by a planned watermain swabbing using the following methods:

  • newsfeed
  • hand-delivered notices to your property at least one day prior to the planned work
  • updating the Watermains page
Subscribe to this page

Select the “Subscribe to this page” button located to the right of the page. You'll receive an email notification every time we update the content for this page. This is an easy way to stay informed.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions.

How can I prepare for flushing?

Before the watermain flushing on your street begins, you should:

  • fill a container with tap water for drinking and cooking and store it in your fridge
  • complete dishwashing, clothes washing and any activities that use water before the watermain flushing is scheduled to start

Is there anything I should do after the watermains are flushed?

After the watermains on your street are flushed, you should run cold water through the tap closest to your water meter until the water is clear. 

How can I prepare for swabbing?

Before the watermain swabbing on your street begins, you should:

  • fill a container with tap water for drinking and cooking and store it in your fridge
  • complete dishwashing, clothes washing and any activities that use water before the watermain swabbing is scheduled to start
  • fill your bathtub with water for use around the house
  • use a pail to transfer water to your toilet so you can flush your toilet
  • turn off any water treatment systems, including water softeners, or shut off the main water supply using the shut off valve located at your water meter

What should I do while the watermains are being swabbed?

While the watermains on your street are being cleaned, you should:

  • avoid using water, including hot water because it will likely be discoloured
  • avoid washing your clothes or doing dishes with discoloured water because it may cause stains

Is there anything I should do after the watermains are swabbed?

After the watermains on your street are swabbed, you should:

  • run cold water through the tap closest to your water meter until the water is clear (don't use a tap with a filter system because the sediment may clog the filter)
  • once the water is clear, turn on your water treatment devices, flush each tap to remove discoloured water, and flush toilets

Please contact us if you have poor water quality, no water or low water pressure in your home after the watermains have been swabbed.

Can I drink the water?

Once the water has cleared and is no longer discoloured, you can resume all regular activities, including drinking. Drinking small quantities of discoloured water shouldn't cause a health problem.

What should I do if my laundry is stained?

If you're washing clothes and get discoloured water, stop the cycle while the tank is full and wait until clear water is available to finish your laundry. If the spin cycle has finished, keep the clothes wet and rewash when clear water is available. If you wash your stained clothes using a commercial rust remover, follow the instructions on the package.

Where does the sediment in the watermains come from?

The sediment in the watermains consists mostly of iron and manganese oxides. These oxides are heavy and will settle on the bottom of watermain piping during periods of normal water use.