Sewer cleaning and inspections taking place this summer

Residents and businesses in downtown Fort McMurray, Waterways, Grayling Terrace, Abasand and TaigaNova will see crews conducting sewer cleaning and inspections over the next several weeks.  Work will begin in the region on July 23 and continue to the end of September. This is the first phase of a multi-year program for all communities in the Municipality.

Importance of keeping sewers in good health:

Uni-jet Industrial Pipe Ltd. will be completing all sewer cleaning and inspection this summer and will provide notice prior to starting work in neighbourhoods.

Routine inspection helps to identify potential blockages and to monitor the structural health of pipes. Cleanings prevent or resolve the buildup of any materials that can block the sewer’s flow such as roots, grease, debris or broken pipe.

Steps to take before work begins in your neighbourhood:

Sometimes during sewer cleaning, changes in air pressure can cause water to splash from toilets, sinks or drains. To help prevent any mess or damage, we recommend the following:

• Keep toilet lids closed when not in use and use drain plugs in sinks and bathtubs.
• Remove floor mats from your bathrooms and place old towels around the base of toilets.
• If you have a float plug in your floor drain or a backwater valve, make sure it’s clean and working properly.
• Cover basement floor drains with thick plastic (like a freezer bag) and place something heavy on top to hold it in place.

 “This project is part of our asset management strategy for the region,” says Erin Judge, manager for the Project Management Office, RMWB.” Not only will cleaning and inspection ensure our sewer systems are working to their full potential, but it also lets us know if there are areas in our underground infrastructure that require scheduled maintenance or replacement.”

To see the tentative schedule, please visit rmwb.ca/sewer or contact Pulse at 780-743-7000.

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