Water that smells a little ‘off’ has been raising eyebrows in parts of the Halifax Regional Municipality where water mains are being replaced.
While the smell or taste of the water may be off-putting, the Halifax Water Commission says it’s not a health concern.
However, Halifax homeowner Trevor Roberts says he’s not taking any chances, since he learned the pipes on his street are being replaced.
“I went out and bought a water purifier and basically that’s what I’ve been using,” says Roberts. “I didn’t want to take any chances.”
Work has been underway to replace corroding cast-iron water mains across the municipality for weeks now, prompting complaints from some residents.
“Sometimes, when the project is wrapping up and they’re re-pressurizing the pipe and getting the water flowing back, you might get some debris or discolouration of the water, a little bit of an odour,” says Jim Campbell, spokesman for the Halifax Water Commission.
“But it’s not a health hazard.”
Concerns about water quality are not limited to the Halifax area; problems with overburdened reservoirs and crumbling infrastructure are a problem in many Maritime towns.
Campbell says water systems that involve reservoirs are more vulnerable to seasonal changes that can include discolouration and require the use of extra chlorine.
He says those things can change the appearance, smell, and taste of municipal tap water in some areas, but that residents shouldn’t be concerned.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ron Shaw
