Environmental Services, Waterworks is responsible for the delivery of drinking water and the physical operation, maintenance and repair of the water distribution and wastewater collection systems. Administrative offices are located at 8100 Warden Avenue.
Most properties have a main shut off valve. It is usually located beside your water meter and used to turn off your water during emergency or repair work. If the valve needs to be fixed or replaced, an appointment can be booked to have the service turned off or on at the curb. Please call Markham's Contact Centre at 905.477.5530 or email customerservice@markham.ca. A service fee is charged to the property owner.
If low water pressure is affecting all your water fixtures and you have a water softener, set it to bypass and then check your water pressure again. If your water pressure resumes while your water softener is set to bypass please contact your water softener provider. If this does not resolve the problem, please call the Contact Centre at 905.477.5530 or e-mail customerservice@markham.ca.
If your water pressure is low at one fixture, remove the faucet aerator (located at the tip of the faucet) and rinse the screen. If this does not resolve the problem, contact a plumber.
Please call the Contact Centre at 905.477.5530 or e-mail customerservice@markham.ca. A Waterworks staff member may be sent to look into this problem.
Extreme cold winter weather can lead to frozen pipes in your home. When water freezes in a pipe, there is no space for the ice to expand and can create enough pressure to burst most pipes. This can cause damage to your property, costly repairs and unnecessary water waste.
Remember
From the property line to your home, you are responsible for plumbing, repairs and replacements. Call a plumber for household plumbing issues.
Check the sections below to learn how to avoid frozen or burst pipes this winter.
Home Prep for Winter
Locate your property’s main indoor water shut-off valve and make sure it works before an emergency arises.
- Locate and shut off your property’s water supply to outdoor taps. Keep outdoor taps in the open position so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to burst.
- Look for drafts of cold air in your home. Weather strip windows and doors, repair broken windows, and insulate areas that allow cold air to enter your home to avoid increased hydro bills.
- Consider installing products designed to insulate water pipes (i.e. pipe sleeve).
- Caulk and seal and openings near your water pipes.
- Check insulation. Wet insulation freezes fast, making it worse than no insulation at all!
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses.
- Winterize sprinkler systems, pools, and spas as per manufacturer’s guidelines.
Signs of a Frozen Pipe
- Frost or condensation appears on the pipe.
- Bulging pipe.
- Reduced water flow from tap or no water at all. Other taps in your home may still be functional if they are connected to a pipe that is not frozen.
- Unusual sounds. Pay attention to unfamiliar noises that may come from your toilets, sinks, or other plumbing. Listen for bubbling, whistling, banging, or clanking. These noises may indicate damaged pipes.
It’s Frozen! Now What?
Shut off your home’s main indoor water shut-off valve, which is usually located in your basement, near your water meter.
Next Steps:
- Open all taps.
- If the frozen pipe can be located, gradually thaw it using one of the following methods:
- Remove obstructions or enclosures and expose the pipe to warm open air
- Wrap the pipe with a heating pad
- Wrap the pipe with rags and pour hot water on it
Do Not use open flames such as a candle or blowtorch to thaw the pipe. Overheating the pipe may cause it to burst or may cause a fire.
Do Not use an electric heater or hair dryer to apply direct heat to the pipe, as leaks may cause electrocution.
What to Do if a Pipe Bursts?
- Shut off your home’s main indoor water shut-off valve.
- Open all taps.
- Place a bucket under the leak until the pipe can be repaired.
- Call a plumber.
Winter Vacation Checklist
4 Things to Do Before Travelling During the Winter
- Leave the heat on in your home and set the thermostat to at least 15 Degrees Celsius (59 Degrees Fahrenheit).
- Shut off your property’s main indoor water shut-off valve and drain your pipes.
- If you shut off your indoor water supply, make sure to turn off your hot water heater to prevent it from burning out.
- Make sure someone checks up on your home on a regular basis – especially during extreme temperatures.
Markham’s water is safe to drink from the tap. It meets all quality standards set by the Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), 2002. More information on water quality and treatment can be found under Water Quality & Testing.
Planting a tree, building a deck or a fence, or for any construction or excavation on City property? Contact ON1Call first to get a locate so you can dig safely. Remember, you are liable for any damage or injury caused by interfering with any buried infrastructure. The locating of the water and sewer lines are now also included in this service and must be identified to ensure they are not damaged.
Request your free locate online or call 1.800.400.2255. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or visit ON1Call for more information. Check before you dig – It’s the Law.
For construction or excavation on private property, property owners are responsible for obtaining locates for the water and sewer lines from a private utility locating contractor.
Please note that if you are submitting an application for
Residential Infill Lot Grading and Servicing Connection (RIGS), please make
that clear on the locate request.
A flooded street may be an indication of a watermain break. Please contact Markham’s Contact Centre immediately at 905.477.5530.
This is your water shut-off valve (also called a curb box or curb stop valve). A curb box is a round metal plate approximately 10 centimetres in diameter that is located in the front lawn, driveway or sidewalk of a property and is owned by the City. Please keep this valve accessible at all times. If you are resurfacing/excavating/landscaping your driveway, or front lawn, please call the Contact Centre at 905.477.5530 to have a Waterworks staff inspect the curb box prior to any work. This will ensure it remains operational.
