On July 6, the Metro Vancouver authority will be making adjustments to the water system, which could cause cloudiness in the water for residents of these three municipalities when they turn on their taps
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Residents in Vancouver, Richmond and Delta need not worry if their tap water looks cloudy for a few days next week.
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On July 6, the Metro Vancouver authority will be making adjustments to the water system, which could cause cloudiness in the water for residents of those three municipalities when they turn on their taps.
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While the discoloration may look off-putting, a Metro Vancouver spokesperson said the water remains safe to drink.
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“Changing water flows can stir up naturally occurring sediment, causing temporary turbidity or cloudiness,” said spokesperson Maggie Tung in an email. “Even if it looks cloudy or slightly discoloured, it is safe to drink.”
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The adjustments being made involve returning the flow of water in the First Narrows Crossing to its original direction and through a section of the water system that had been isolated for some time.
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Last fall, the flow of water in some water mains was reversed to allow for the construction of the Stanley Park water supply tunnel. The new 1.4-kilometre-long tunnel replaces an existing water main originally built in the 1930s and which has reached the end of its service life.
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Sunrise
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The existing main, Capilano Main No. 4, is a 1.8-metre-diameter steel pipe that runs beneath the park and carries half the drinking water used in the City of Vancouver and one-third of the entire region’s supply. It’s among the 10 per cent of water mains that had been classified as being in “poor” condition in Metro’s 2022 inventory of its water assets, according to district officials.
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Construction for the Stanley Park water supply tunnel project began in 2024 and is expected to conclude in 2029. At the time construction began, costs were projected to total $495 million.
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According to Metro Vancouver, member municipalities and health authorities were notified of the water adjustment and potential for cloudy water, and maps were provided to the municipalities to aid in issuing public notices locally.
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With files from Tiffany Crawford.
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