Plans to move six west Saint John neighbourhoods to the new east side water treatment plant have been delayed.
Officials with Saint John Water announced the transition in July due to lower than expected water levels in the new South Bay wellfield.
Brent McGovern, the commissioner of Saint John Water, said they expected the changeover to happy by Christmas.
“But with slight delays on the arrival of pumps [for the pumping station], we are then into the holiday period and, as a result, will push the completion and the commissioning of the new pumping station into the new year,” said McGovern in a phone interview.
McGovern now expects the transition will take place in either late January or in February.
Saint John Water Update: West Saint John Drinking Water Service Adjustments https://t.co/MnmSLsHZPC
— City of Saint John (@cityofsaintjohn) November 25, 2019
In the meantime, McGovern said other work has already begun to prepare for the switch.
“The pumping station is being fabricated and assembled in one of the industrial parks in the city,” he said.
“As well, there are site works that are currently underway over on Fallsview Drive.”
Six neighbourhoods will be part of the changeover: Lower West, Milford, Randolph, Fundy Heights, Duck Cove and Sand Cove.
Once the transition occurs, McGovern says residents will notice much softer water.
“The water from the Loch Lomond Drinking Water Treatment Facility is closer to what they would have experienced from the Spruce Lake treatment facility, however, it will be fully treated drinking water,” he said.
In 2017, the west side water system was switched from Spruce Lake to the South Bay wellfield. The controversial move led to dozens of reports of leaking pipes and a class-action lawsuit.
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