Durham Market South closed for two weeks for watermain replacement

Durham Market South will be closed for the next two weeks while the watermain is replaced between Queen Street and Princes Street.

Wednesday night, Kincardine council approved the emergency expense of $48,000 for the project. Operations manager Don Huston told council that the prolonged period of extremely cold weather caused the watermain to freeze.
Longitudinal splits had occurred along the watermain, resulting in severe leaks. Considering the age and condition of the pipe, repairs to one section would mean similar issues would occur in other sections of that watermain.



The watermain along Durham Market South in Kincardine has burst due to the extremely cold weather; photo courtesy of the Municipality of Kincardine

Durham Market South is closed and construction work will begin immediately, with the new watermain in service within two weeks. The existing watermain will remain operational until that point, and businesses located on Durham Market South will continue to operate during their normal business hours.

In a press release, issued Thursday (March 19), the municipality expressed its appreciation for the co-operation and patience of those directly affected by this work, particularly in view of the short notice provided.

Wednesday night, deputy mayor Jacqueline Faubert, chairing the council meeting in the absence of the mayor, brought forward a motion that Kincardine council ask the province for funding to municipalities to help them recover from the substantial costs this winter, dealing with frozen waterlines and watermain breaks.
This motion is to be sent to the environment ministry, with a copy to Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).

Staff was directed to draw up a letter to that effect and send it off.

Residents of Kincardine are asked to continue running taps in their homes to avoid frozen waterlines, until further notice from the municipality.

In recognition of the extra costs to co-operating residents, council has granted an exemption for all residential properties by charging the equivalent of the fixed monthly rates only for the period commencing Feb. 1 until such time that the risk of freezing has been reduced (currently estimated to last until April). Staff has been authorized to provide similar relief to any affected businesses.