The sustained cold hitting the region is causing a lot of problems with water pipes, and nowhere seems to have the problem worse than in Collingwood, where frozen pipes are keeping utility workers very busy.
Linda Bridle has been lugging water from her daughter’s house every time she visits, but on Tuesday the Town of Collingwood started piping water to her home from her next door neighbours.
“We take a feed from the neighbour’s house, off his garden hose and we strap the two houses together, so that it feeds from the other house,” says Doug Hewgill of Collingwood Public Utilities.
Bridle says she's grateful for the water and the neighbours.
“Couldn't have better neighbours; I thank him very much, from the bottom of my heart,” she says.
Over the last 20 years, the town has had about five frozen water pipe calls, but last year there were more than 100 and this year there's been more than 150 homes with frozen pipes.
Officials say water must be left running at all times, and the town says not to worry about the cost.
“The water is currently at about two or three degrees centigrade in the pipes, so that actually keeps it thawed and heats up the ground, so that it won't freeze,” says Marcus Firman, spokesperson for Collingwood Public Utilities. “We will be adjusting bills down to the average use so don't be afraid of running the tap.”
Collingwood residents dealing with frozen or broken pipes can access fresh, clean, free drinking water at 11437 Highway 26. People are just asked to bring their own containers.
