It was a little painful having first to replace one water main valve and then another the next day on Main Street, but it offered an encouraging view of the original water main pipes that were installed more than 100 years ago, said David Wasyliw, senior public works operator (town foreman).
In August, the water main valves on the first few blocks of Main Street had to be shut off while the town workers repaired a water break near the old post office building, he said. When the water was turned back on, the valve at the intersection with First Avenue began to leak.
With those old-style valves, it is common for them to leak a while and then seal, but this one refused to seal, Wasyliw said. The decision was made to hire Wyonzek Bros. Construction on Wednesday to dig a pit around the valve, remove a section of the old pipe and install a new valve.
After cutting through the eight-inch steel pipe, the town workmen were amazed that the quality of the pipe had not deteriorated since it had been installed during Canora’s early days as a village, he said. Wasyliw noted the contract to the cast-iron water main distribution system installed in the 1950s to 1970s which is often in very poor condition and is currently being replaced in a long-term project.
After the new valve was installed and the town workmen turned the valves back on, they were a little disheartened to find that the valve a block south began to leak and the project had to be repeated on Thursday, Wasyliw said.
