Tilbury & Wheatley Water Status Updates

Boil Water Advisory for Wheatley, Tilbury, and surrounding areas has been rescinded.

The Boil Water Advisory issued September 13th, 2023 to all consumers of the Wheatley and Tilbury Municipal Water Distribution Systems, including the following, is no longer in effect:
• Mint Waterline Association
• D&O Waterline Association
• 3rd Concession Waterline Association
• 3rd & 4th Concession Waterline Association
• KOA Waterline Association
• Cedar Inn Water Line Association
• Richardson Sideroad Waterline Association
• Tecumseh Waterline Association
• Tilbury Townline Waterline Association
• Leamington (Wheatley DS)

CK Public Health has received satisfactory test results from the water samples taken on October 1st and 2nd, 2023. Based on sufficient water pressures, adequate chlorine levels, and water free of bacterial contamination, the acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, has lifted the boil water advisory.

The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (PUC) continues to work to ensure that water is available for everyone and ask that water conservation efforts continue. Water conservation means avoiding water consumption activities such as lawn watering, car washing, filling of hot tubs, and all other non-essential uses of the water supply. “We thank everyone for their patience and resilience as we navigate this difficult situation,” said Tim Sunderland, General Manager of the Chatham-Kent PUC. “We look forward to continuing to move ahead with repairs to the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant.”

As repairs continue at the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant, the Municipality of ChathamKent and Chatham-Kent PUC will continue to update the dedicated Let’s Talk page, located at www.chatham-kent.ca/waterstatus with information on the progress.

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For more information contact: Cara Robinson Manager, Healthy Environments CK Public Health ckphucommunications@chatham-kent.ca Media Release October 4, 2023

As the boil water advisory continues throughout the Wheatley and Tilbury area, the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and CK Public Health have begun to conduct the next round of water testing.

Tests are being conducted within the Wheatley/Tilbury water distribution system, which has approximately 328 kilometers of watermains and serves approximately 8,500 residents. The PUC is supplying this water distribution system through system interconnects with other water systems and hauling bulk water to supplement supplies. Along with ensuring adequate water system has sufficient pressure, there must also be adequate chlorine levels. The water must also be completely free of bacteriological contamination. When these conditions have been met, the boil water advisory can be lifted.

The PUC continues to work to ensure that water is available for everyone and ask that water conservation efforts continue. Water conservation means avoiding water consumption activities such as lawn watering, car washing, filling of hot tubs, and all other non-essential uses of the water supply.

Since September 28^th, The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has distributed a total of seven semi-trailer loads of water to the residents of Wheatley and Tilbury, totalling approximately 170,000 litres of drinking water.

Bottled water continues to be available for pick-up in both the Wheatley arena and Tilbury arena parking lots. Hours of operation for the pick-up locations are 12:00pm – 6:00pm every day until the boil water advisory ends.

We are recommending one or two cases per family per day but understand that some circumstances may require more. We encourage those with vehicles to help neighbours and friends without vehicles to acquire their water. While empty bottle containers can be put out with normal recycling collection, bins are being provided at both arena locations should anyone wish to dispose of them there.

Bottled Water Availability:

When: Until the boil water advisory ends

Hours: 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Where: Wheatley Arena (196 Erie St. N.) and Tilbury Arena (49 Bond Ave.)

Why: To ensure easier access to drinking water for those affected by the boil water advisory

We would like to remind everyone that during a boil water advisory, as per CK Public Health guidelines, water is safe to be consumed after bringing it to a rolling boil for one minute.

Up-to-date information about the boil water advisory and Wheatley Water Treatment Plant can be found at www.chatham-kent.ca/waterstatus. The Boil Water Advisory Update Line can be reached by calling 519-436-3250.

As the boil water advisory continues throughout the Wheatley and Tilbury area, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent is making cases of bottled water available for all residents within the affected area.

Bottled water will be available for pick-up in both the Wheatley arena and Tilbury arena parking lots starting tomorrow, September 28^th at noon. Hours of operation for the pick-up locations are 12:00pm – 6:00pm every day until the boil water advisory ends.

We are recommending one or two cases per family per day but understand that some circumstances may require more. We encourage those with vehicles to help neighbours and friends without vehicles to acquire their water.

Quick Facts

When: September 28^th until the boil water advisory ends

Hours: 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Where: Wheatley Arena (196 Erie St. N.) and Tilbury Arena (49 Bond Ave.)

Why: To ensure easier access to drinking water for those affected by the boil water advisory

There will continue to be bottled water provided to locations serving vulnerable peoples through the Wheatley Resource Centre (108 Talbot Road E.) and the Tilbury Food Bank (26 Queen St. N.).

In order to increase community knowledge of this initiative, we will be putting up flyers at local libraries and municipal centres in Wheatley and Tilbury directing residents to the locations and providing links to the Let’s Talk page for more information.

We would like to remind everyone that during a boil water advisory, as per CK Public Health guidelines, water is safe to be consumed after bringing it to a rolling boil for one minute. This advisory measure is in place until CK Public Health receives additional information regarding the stability of the water system.

The Boil Water Advisory Update Line can be reached by calling 519-436-3250.

As the boiled water advisory continues throughout the Wheatley and Tilbury area, an emergency supply of bottled water is being brought into the communities as a precautionary measure.

CK Public Health and Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission are working with Chatham-Kent Economic Development to ensure that vulnerable people have access to free bottled water should the need arise. To date, bottled water has been distributed to the Wheatley Resource Centre and the Tilbury Food Bank.

During a boil water advisory, as per CK Public Health guidelines, water is safe to be consumed after bringing it to a rolling boil for one minute. This advisory measure is in place until CK Public Health receives additional information regarding the stability of the water system.

Status updates on the boil water advisory can be found by calling the Water Advisory Update Line at 519-436-3250.

Based on a preliminary investigation at the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant, expectations for the return of normal operations at the plant have been estimated at a year or longer. The time period is due to the fire causing significant damage to specialized mechanical and electrical systems within the plant. This specialized equipment can have long lead times for order and delivery. The full extent of the damage is not yet known, and as a result, precise timelines for a return to normal operations cannot yet be established.

Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is working closely with CK Public Health, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks to resolve the Boil Water Advisory. System changes are being implemented to ensure that the supply of water is sustainable. Once system reliability can be confirmed, water testing will determine when the advisory can be lifted.

“We would like the people of Wheatley and Tilbury to know that although the Water Treatment Plant will be out of service for the foreseeable future, this does not necessarily mean that the Boil Water Advisory will be active for that amount of time as well,” said Tim Sunderland, General Manager of Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission. “Once we stabilize the water supply, which we are working to do now, we will be able to test the water with accurate and repeatable results.”

“CK Public Health takes every precaution needed where the quality of our drinking water is concerned,” said April Rietdyk, General Manager of Health & Human Services. “We need to be absolutely certain in the reliability of our water delivery system before we can be confident in the repeatability of water testing results. Once the water system is secured, testing will be used to determine when CK Public Health can lift the advisory.”

PUC staff are working to maintain the water supply through bulk water haulers and system interconnects with neighbouring water systems. Residents in the affected communities may notice trailers being brought in as a precautionary measure to house an emergency bottled water supply.

For the time being, residents in Wheatley and Tilbury will experience low water pressure. The PUC is asking that residents of Wheatley, Tilbury and customers served by the South Water Treatment Plant (which includes the communities of Blenheim, Merlin, Coatsworth, Shrewsbury, Rondeau and Erieau) conserve water until further notice.

During a Boil Water Advisory, water can be consumed after bringing it to a rolling boil for one minute. This advisory measure is in place until CK Public Health receives additional information regarding the stability of the water system. CK Public Health is working closely with the Public Utilities Commission at this time.

Status updates on the Boil Water Advisory can be found by calling the Water Advisory Update Line at 519-436-3250.

The Boil Water Advisory, which was issued the evening of Wednesday, September 13th due to a loss in pressure through the distribution system, remains in effect. This advisory is issued to all consumers of the Chatham-Kent Municipal Water Distribution Systems for Wheatley and Tilbury, including:

• Mint Waterline Association
• D&O Waterline Association
• 3rd Concession Waterline Association
• 3rd & 4th Concession Waterline Association
• KOA Waterline Association
• Cedar Inn Water Line Association
• Richardson Sideroad Waterline Association
• Tecumseh Waterline Association
• Tilbury Townline Waterline Association
• Leamington (Wheatley DS)

As the South Water Treatment Plant system is assisting to feed water to the Wheatley and Tilbury systems through interconnect valves, The Public Utilities Commission is also asking customers served by the South Water Treatment Plant (which includes the communities of Blenheim, Merlin, Coatsworth, Shrewsbury, Rondeau and Erieau) to conserve water until further notice.

Residents are encouraged to call the Water Advisory Line at 519-436-3250, which is accessible 24/7, should they be looking for updates on the advisory status.

A Boil Water Advisory has been issued to all consumers of the Chatham-Kent Municipal Water Distribution Systems for Wheatley and Tilbury, including:

• Mint Waterline Association
• D&O Waterline Association
• 3rd Concession Waterline Association
• 3rd & 4th Concession Waterline Association
• KOA Waterline Association
• Cedar Inn Water Line Association
• Richardson Sideroad Waterline Association
• Tecumseh Waterline Association
• Tilbury Townline Waterline Association
• Leamington (Wheatley DS)

Chatham-Kent’s Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Shanker Nesathurai is advising residents to bring the water to a rolling boil for at least one minute prior to using it for domestic purposes, e.g. drinking, making infant formula and juice, brushing teeth, washing raw foods and making ice. Alternatively, safe bottled water sources can be used for consumption.

The reason for the boil water advisory is due to a loss in water pressure through the distribution system. This advisory measure is in place until CK Public Health receives additional information regarding the water operator. CK Public Health is working closely with the Public Utilities Commission.

Updates will be provided via the Water Advisory Update Line, please call 519-436-3250.