WINNIPEG — The frozen pipe situation is expected to get worse before it gets better.
“We’re continuing to look for neighbourhoods or blocks of homes that may be at risk and continuing to issue notifications,” said Diane Sacher, the director of the city’s water and waste department.
The last time there was a wide-scale frozen pipe problem was back in 1979.
Despite looking at archives, Sacher said she can’t find out how deep the frost went back then.
Right now it goes eight feet down in some places in Winnipeg and may go further.
“We don’t know how deep it could go,” Sacher said. “What we do know is it is continuing to grow so it will get deeper.”
Vivian and Ross Cameron have lived in their Wildwood Park home for nearly 60 years. Their water line has never frozen until now.
“I don’t know what we are going to do but we will do it,” said Vivian, who expects to have frozen pipes until June.
They have a temporary water line hooked up from their neighbour to help until then.
As more and more pipes froze, the city decided to waive the $305 fee for pipe thawing on private property but only for services after Feb. 28.
Councillors are still waiting for Sacher to tell them how much it would cost to reimburse those whose pipes froze before that date.
“You wouldn’t go out and spend money unless you know how much it is going to cost you,” said Mayor Sam Katz.
Sacher was not given a date to come back with the amount.
“I think it is really unfair to citizens to make them wait,” said Paula Havixbeck, the Charleswood councillor who asked council to cover the cost for frozen pipes dating back to Jan. 1.
Once the cost is added up, city council will vote on whether to issue refunds.
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