Water outages
When a water outage happens, the Municipality will notify the affected area and work to restore service as quickly as possible. If you currently do not have water, check below for an update and on the RMWB Facebook and Twitter accounts. You may also call Pulse at 780-743-7000 to receive an update or to report a water outage.
If you see a water line leak (unexplained water on the surface i.e on the road, sidewalk or grass), please report the issue to Pulse.
Please note, every emergency repair is different. The time it takes to fix a leak and restore service varies due to numerous factors, such as weather, if the ground is frozen, size of the pipe and where it is located.
Maintenance and Service Updates
Current temporary water service impacts
- Restoration to water distribution system downtown Fort McMurray- Sept. 11
- Conklin Water Treatment Plant planned upgrades - Aug. 15
Hydrant flushing
The Municipality regularly flushes water distribution systems to help prevent potential contamination and maintain high-quality, safe drinking water. How and when the water distribution systems are flushed, depends on the community and infrastructure in place. Click on each community below to learn more:
During flushing, crews will open the fire hydrants to run water through the distribution system. The water service at your home or businesses should not be interrupted but you may notice a fluctuation in pressure. If you happen to notice slight discolouration, run the cold tap for about 15 minutes. If the discolouration continues after that, please contact Pulse.
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Anzac & Gregoire Lake Estates |
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The water distribution system in Anzac is flushed approximately two times a month. With rural water and sewer service under construction in the area, regular flushing needs to be done to ensure there is consistent movement and pressure throughout the water distribution system. This helps to maintain safe, high-quality drinking water. Once the rural water and sewer service project is complete and enough homes connect, the system will not need to be flushed as regularly. In addition to the regular flushing, the water distribution system in Anzac is flushed every fall to winterize the system and a sanitary flushing is also completed annually. The annual winterizing and sanitary flushes are done on all hydrants in the region and help ensure that the high-quality standards of water are maintained, and regulatory requirements met. |
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Conklin |
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The water distribution system in Conklin is flushed approximately two times a month. With rural water and sewer servicing available in some areas and still under construction in others, regular flushing needs to be done to ensure there is consistent movement and pressure throughout the water distribution system. This helps to maintain safe, high-quality drinking water. Once the rural water and sewer servicing project is fully complete and enough homes are connected in Conklin, the system will not need to be flushed as regularly. In addition to the regular flushing, the water distribution system in Conklin is flushed every fall to winterize the system and a sanitary flushing is also completed annually. The annual winterizing and sanitary flushes are done on all hydrants in the region and help ensure that the high-quality standards of water are maintained. |
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Janvier |
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The water distribution system in Janvier is flushed approximately two times a month. With rural water and sewer servicing now available in Janvier, regular flushing needs to be done to ensure there is consistent movement throughout the water distribution system. This helps to maintain safe, high-quality drinking water. Once more homes connect to the system in Janvier, it will not need to be flushed as regularly. In addition to the regular flushing, the water distribution system in Janvier is flushed every fall to winterize the hydrants. Sanitary flushing is also completed annually. The annual winterizing and sanitary flushes are done on all hydrants in the region and help ensure that the high-quality standards of water are maintained. |
| Fort Chipewyan |
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The water distribution system in Fort Chipewyan is flushed every fall to winterize the system and sanitary flushes are completed a few times a year. The sanitary flushes and annual winterizing are done on all hydrants in the region and help ensure that the high-quality standards of water are maintained and regulatory requirements met. There is a larger high flow fire pump in the water treatment plant that is started and tested on a monthly basis to confirm its operation for emergencies. While this is happening, if you notice a slight change in water pressure or colouration, run your cold water tap for 15 minutes.
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| Fort McKay |
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The water distribution system in Fort McKay is flushed every fall to winterize the system and a sanitary flushing is also completed annually. The annual winterizing and sanitary flushes are done on all hydrants in the region and help ensure that the high-quality standards of water are maintained, and regulatory requirements met. |
| Saprae Creek |
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The water distribution system in Saprae Creek is flushed every fall to winterize the system and a sanitary flushing is also completed annually. The annual winterizing and sanitary flushes are done on all hydrants in the region and help ensure that the high-quality standards of water are maintained, and regulatory requirements met. |
Flushing programs in Fort McMurray
Flushing programs in the Fort McMurray urban service area occur in different neighbourhoods from April to September and are a regular part of providing clean, safe drinking water to the community. During flushing, your water service will not be interrupted but you may notice a fluctuation in pressure. If you happen to notice slight discolouration, run the cold tap for about 15 minutes. If the discolouration continues after that, please contact Pulse.
Impact to environment
Flushed water is discharged to the storm water system. It is dechlorinated so there is no harmful impact to the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
| How can I get water while there is a water outage in my area? |
| Most water outages are resolved quickly. If a water outage is determined to be excessive, the Municipality will provide water jugs or bottled water to the affected homes and properties in the area. Please check the Water Outages webpage to find more information on active temporary service adjustments. For questions, please contact Pulse at 780-743-7000. |
| What should I do once my water is turned back on? |
| Once water is restored, the Municipality will flush the system to ensure water quality standards are met. If you have any issues with cloudy or murky water, you should run your cold taps for 15 minutes. If the problem continues, please contact Pulse at 780-743-7000 or 1-800-973-9663 or online at rmwb.ca/pulse. |
| What standards are set for drinking water? |
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The water treatment and distribution process of drinking water is highly regulated by Alberta Environment and Protected Area (EPA) in conjunction with Alberta Health Services (AHS). Strict parameters must be met, which are listed in the Canadian Drinking Water Quality Standards. These standards are the same across Canada and are enforced by EPA to ensure that potable water is regulated and safe to drink. |