PHOTOS/AUDIO

It can be explained easily, or it can sound very complicated.

The easy explanation is that water was shut off for some, and for others there was a boil water advisory, or both.

Here is the complicated story.

Director of Public Works and Environmental Services Chris Angelo says last Saturday, the concrete pressure pipe that crosses the Trent River to provide water for both sides of the city had a leak. There are three water pipes in Trenton. One goes under the bed of the Trent River that was installed in 1975. It is 20 inches in diameter. It runs adjacent to the D.J. MacDonald Bridge (north Trenton bridge), which is the bridge where the Quinte West OPP detachment is.

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There are also two 10 inch pipes that run from the Ontario Street Boat Launch, across the Trent River, west to Ford Street. This is just to the south of the D.J. MacDonald Bridge.

The 20 inch concrete pipe had a leak in it, which forced the loss of about 80-100 litres of water per second. The pipe has a life expectancy of 80-100 years, however, it broke much earlier than anticipated.

Director Angelo:

The leak was imbedded in the sediment of the river.

The municipality does not only provide water for Quinte West, but also for parts of Prince Edward County in Carrying Place and Consecon.

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Angelo says the city went straight to work hiring divers and getting a temporary clamp placed on the concrete pipe, but that is only a short term solution. The municipality hired Cobourg Development Services, who are installing a High Density Polyethylene Pipe that is 18 inches in diameter and more than 550 metres in length. That’s right, more than half a kilometre.

On Friday morning, that pipe began running west over the bridge and is expected to go online before the end of the month. Angelo says this will provide a longer short-term solution while the municipality discusses next steps.

Mayor Harrison says he is very thankful to the Town of Brighton, City of Belleville, City of Kingston, and the Town of Cobourg for their support. He says the staff with the City of Quinte West and Cobourg Development Services have been incredible during this time.

Angelo says he hopes that the permanent solution can be completed by snowfall, but there is a lot of work to do in the meantime.

CLICK HERE for the latest information from the City of Quinte West.

You can listen to the media conference with mayor of Quinte West Jim Harrison and the Director of Public Works and Environmental Services Chris Angelo below.

Director of Public Works and Environmental Services Chris Angelo and QW Mayor Jim Harrison