The Municipality of Port Hope operates and maintains our water and sewer infrastructure. We supply safe drinking water to urban residents, oversee the municipal sanitary sewage system, and help connect existing or future homes to the system.
Whose responsibility is it?
The water and sewer service lines from the private home to the property boundary line are the homeowner’s responsibility.
The continuation of those service lines from the property boundary line to the main service lines in the roadway are the Municipality's responsibility.
Hydrant Flushing
Each year, in the spring and fall, Municipal staff flush the fire hydrants as part of a standard maintenance program. This important upkeep ensures that adequate flow and pressure is available throughout the urban area of the community. While the hydrant flushing is happening in your area, avoid doing your laundry as water may be at lower pressure than normal and rust may occur. During this time, it is important to remember, this type of maintenance happens all over Ontario, Canada and North America. The water is still safe to drink but it may not be aesthetically pleasing in that moment.
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Spring 2025 hydrant flushing schedule |
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Dates: April 7 to May 16, 2025 - Weekdays (Monday to Friday)
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Why do we perform hydrant flushing? |
| Hydrant flushing is a controlled procedure that is vital to the general maintenance of our water distribution system. It ensures adequate water flow for fire fighters, residents, and businesses. It also helps maintain the Municipality’s water clarity and quality by clearing iron and mineral deposits from the water mains. |
| What is the result of hydrant flushing? |
| Hydrant flushing helps ensure water quality and helps avoid random bouts of rusty water if there is a high demand for water, such as a major firefighting effort or high usage during a sustained drought. While the Municipality is hydrant flushing, the iron and mineral deposits in the water are stirred up and tap water can temporarily appear rust-colored. |
| Is the water safe after hydrant flushing? |
| Water is safe to use and consume during hydrant flushing, however it may stain laundry. Although the water is discolored during hydrant flushing and may look unclear or tinted, the water is not harmful or contaminated. |
Sanitary and Storm Sewer Flushing
Every year, municipal staff rent a vactor truck to flush the sanitary and storm sewer system. During this time, residents can expect minor traffic impacts and occasional night work on major arterial roads for staff and public safety. Each year, staff focus on a specific area or quadrant of town to perform the flushing. Residents in the affected area are recommended to make sure all floor drains and plumbing traps are filled with water and all toilet seats are in the down position. These precautions will help minimize the chance of a Vactor Flushing ‘blowback’.
| What is sanitary and storm sewer flushing? |
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Sanitary and storm sewer flushing is conducted with a vactor truck. This is an important maintenance task that cleans the sewer systems by using a high-pressure hose reel and vacuum to remove silt, debris, and tree root intrusions. This improves the overall quality of the infrastructure and helps to extend its useful life.
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| Reasons for a ‘blowback’ during sanitary and storm sewer flushing |
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Water is pumped through the jet nozzle at a very high rate. During this cleaning process, while the nozzle is propelling itself up the line, a negative pressure is created ahead of the nozzle while a positive pressure is created on the back side of the nozzle. As the nozzle moves through the line, it passes house laterals in a fraction of a second, causing a rapid change from negative to positive pressure. This positive pressure pushes back into the service lateral line. If there is nowhere for the positive pressure to go (through a properly vented stack) then it will force its way out through the plumbing fixtures or floor drain, thereby creating blowback. Blowback is an eruption of air and water discharging incorrectly from a plumbing fixture drain. Essentially, blowback can be caused by a plugged vent stack, or inadequately designed plumbing. If blowback occurs at your property please contact the Municipality immediately by email or phone at 905-885-8760, so it can be appropriately addressed. |
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2023 vactor flushing |
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Vactor truck flushing of the sanitary and storm sewer system is anticipated to begin on June 5 2023. It is scheduled to be completed by end of September. During this time, there will be minor traffic impacts and occasional night work on major arterial roads for staff and public safety. This year, staff will be working in:
Residents in these quadrants are recommended to ensure all floor drains and plumbing traps are filled with water and all toilet seats are in the down position. This will help minimize the chance of vactor flushing ‘blowback’. |