Ridgetown will remain under a boil water advisory until at least Saturday afternoon, officials say, as they continue to perform tests.
Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission General Manager Tom Kissner says public works found the water main break Wednesday afternoon.
Kissner says the health unit issued a boil water advisory at around 11:30pm Wednesday, but it wasn't sent out to media or posted online until 11:30am Thursday morning. "Some of it has to do with staff hours. Any media releases actually come from the health unit," says Kissner.
"We had a number of staff, roughly 30, through the evening hours (Wednesday) night hand-delivering notices. Typically we don't go door-to-door. Something with this magnitude though we certainly wanted to make sure and ensure that residents were notified."
The water main break caused low pressure in the system, which Kissner says poses a health risk. "When there is low pressure, and that's anything under 20lbs, in this distribution system there is a possibility of something getting into the main that we don't want in the main," says Kissner. "So that's why there is a requirement to put a boil water (advisory) on."
Kissner says officials tested the water Thursday afternoon and will be taking another sample Friday afternoon.