Sarnia's Public Works crews have been busy repairing broken water mains in these bitterly cold temperatures.
City crews have repaired 22 so far since the start of 2026, including five this past weekend alone.
General Manager of Engineering and Operations David Jackson said they typically see about 100 water main breaks during any given year.
He said staff have been working long hours, day and night.
"It's typically our old cast iron metal pipes that are breaking," said Jackson. "That's mainly concentrated in the south end of the city but there are areas in the north end where we have that same vintage pipe. Some of the breaks over the weekend were out that way as well."
Jackson said this year’s capital budget includes nearly $5 million for main replacement projects, continuing a multi-year trend of aggressive infrastructure investment.
"As we get those old mains replaced, we hope to see fewer breaks during the winter," he said. "We get the breaks from the freeze and thaw cycle just putting pressure in the soil onto the pipes. As the temperatures fluctuate up and down and coming out of the winter, that's when we'll see those breaks. It's still early in the year for us."
Jackson said another issue they're facing is the ineffectiveness of salt on the roads.
"When it gets this cold out, salt can't melt the snow," said Jackson. "People are seeing some of those snow-packed roads, certainly on local roads. They'll likely stay that way until we get some warmer temperatures. We've also mixed more sand into what we're applying on the roads now to help get some traction until we can melt what's on there."
The city is also putting an additional $7.8 million into sewer, road, and water projects that include new water mains alongside sewers and road replacement.
Other highlights of the 2026 Capital Budget include:
- $3.6 million for city recreation spaces and facilities
- $4.1 million in road resurfacing
- $1 million in shoreline protection
- $11 million for the extension of Wellington Street
- $2.1 million in transit fleet expansion and replacement
- $10.9 million in combined sewer separation
- $2 million for flood mitigation
- $4.5 million on St Andrews Street Treatment Plant rehabilitation and process improvements
