At approximately 2:00 am on March 29th a pipeline break occurred on the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System causing a temporary interruption in water supply. The exact cause of the pipeline break is currently unknown. A full investigation will take place following the repair of the break. Affected municipalities include Bluewater, South Huron, Lambton Shores, Lucan Biddulph, North Middlesex, Middlesex Centre, Strathroy Caradoc and the City of London. Most of these municipalities have some water storage available in reservoirs to continue limited supply to their distribution systems, however water conservation by all communities is urgently required to ensure adequate supply during
this emergency. Alternate servicing is being provided where possible.

The community of Denfield does not currently have a storage reservoir. The Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System is currently working with Middlesex Centre to provide an alternate water supply for this area.

American Water Canada Corp., the contracted operating authority for the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System, is currently on site coordinating the emergency response. Work crews from the City of London are also on site assisting with the repairs.

The primary transmission main is a 48” diameter pipeline that runs between the water treatment plant located near Grand Bend and the terminal reservoir near Arva, north of the City of London. The pipeline is 47 km in length.

Due to the location of the break and large diameter of the transmission pipeline, it is estimated that repairs will take between 24 to 48 hours to complete.

The Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System is requesting all area municipalities to implement water use reductions in response to the break on the transmission pipeline. In response to this emergency, the supply to the City of London from the Elgin Area Water Supply System has been increased, however in order to maintain adequate storage of water in area reservoirs, the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System is requesting area municipalities and consumers to voluntarily reduce their consumption of water.

A precautionary boil water advisory has been issued by the Huron County Health Unit for the Crediton area of South Huron, west to Lake Huron, due to low water pressures as a result of this pipeline failure. Inquiries regarding this Precautionary Boil Water Advisory should be directed to the Municipality of South Huron.

Additional information about the regional water supply system is available at www.watersupply.london.ca.

Contact: Andrew J. Henry, P.Eng.
Division Manager, Regional Water Supply
Lake Huron and Elgin Area Primary Water Supply Systems
519.661.2500 ext.1355