Do you know what ice pigging is?
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No, nothing to do with a frosty farm animal. It is the technique used to clean the region's water pipe network and it will be happening in areas of Port Macquarie from Monday, May 11.
The cleaning is part of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's ongoing maintenance of the water network, and forms part of the $17 million investment in water supply during the 2019/20 financial year.
The areas to be cleaned include West Port, East Port, areas within and surrounding the Port Macquarie CBD, and areas north of Koala Street.
Cleaning will take approximately six weeks to complete, and will be carried out by xouncil's contractor Suez, using the innovative technology known as ice pigging.
Ice pigging is a quick and effective way to clean pipes compared to traditional flushing methods, as it uses 50 per cent less water, and means interruption to the water supply is relatively short.
A semi-solid ice slurry is pushed through the pipe, collecting sediment as it passes over the pipe surface. It means very little flushing of the pipes is usually required, reducing overall water use.
Director Dan Bylsma said the cleaning has been scheduled to minimise the impact on residents and businesses.
"It is a good time for the work to take place, as a number of businesses are closed or operating under reduced hours as a result of COVID-19, and work will take place outside of peak usage times, or at night where required," Mr Bylsma said.
"We understand that some businesses rely on water for their day-to-day operations, and we'll be contacting them to let them know when cleaning will take place and to discuss alternative arrangements if required."
Residents and businesses will receive at least 48 hours' notice, as there will be minor interruptions to water supply on the cleaning day, and water use should be avoided.
Following the cleaning there may be discoloured or cloudy water, so an outside tap should be run until the water runs clear.
"Whilst the impact to homes and businesses will be minimal, I encourage those that have an essential need for water to contact us if they have any specific questions or concerns," Mr Bylsma said.
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