Upgrading the water filtration plant: Upcoming maintenance work

Launch of the Drinking Water Plant Modernization Project

The year 2024 brought significant challenges to our community, including a water crisis that caused considerable inconvenience. Repeated boil water advisories and major water outages disrupted daily life for you—our citizens, merchants, and businesses. In 2025, addressing this situation remains the top priority for the town of Bedford, and we are committed to maintaining transparent communication with you throughout the process.

In order to improve the resiliency of our water infrastructures and the quality of the water network, we are launching Phase 1 of the Drinking Water Plant Modernization Project.

Phase 1 involves replacing the distribution pumps at the Bedford Filtration Plant, located in Saint-Armand, along the shores of Missisquoi Bay.

While we strive to carry out the work with minimal disruption to residents, certain essential actions will temporarily impact access to drinking water. These measures are necessary to modify the current network configuration, making it more resilient and reliable.

Notice: Please note that the work initially scheduled for January 20 has been postponed to January 27, 2025.

The upcoming refurbishment work includes the following dates:

Key dates | Upcoming work

DATE	TIME	WORK TO BE PERFORMED	IMPACT ON POPULATION
January 6 2025	from 10 a.m.	Addition of a valve to the filtration plant	Water cut-off in Saint-Armand and Stanbridge Station for a few hours, followed by a precautionary boil-water advisory (Saint-Armand and Stanbridge Station)
January 7 2025	from 7 a.m.	Addition of a valve to the filtration plant	Water cut-off in Saint-Armand and Stanbridge Station for several hours Precautionary boil-water advisory in effect for the entire territory (Bedford, Canton de Bedford, Saint-Armand and Stanbridge Station) for a minimum of 72 hours* * Notification of the preacautionary boil-water advisory will be communicated to you via: Info Alert (text message, recorded call or e-mail), the Town of Bedford's website and Facebook page. Lifting of the preacautionary boil-water advisory will be communicated to you in the same way.
January 27 2025	from 8 p.m. (night work to minimize the impact on residents)	Replacement of distribution pumps at the filtration plant	Water cut-off in Saint-Armand and Stanbridge Station for approximately 8 hours, followed by a preacautionary boil-water advisory (Saint-Armand and Stanbridge Station)
January 28 2025	from 7 a.m.		Precautionary boil-water advisory in effect for the entire territory (Bedford, Canton de Bedford, Saint-Armand and Stanbridge Station) for a minimum of 72 hours* * Notification of the preacautionary boil-water advisory will be communicated to you via: Info Alert (text message, recorded call or e-mail), the Town of Bedford's website and Facebook page. Lifting of the preacautionary boil-water advisory will be communicated to you in the same way.

How to Prepare for an Upcoming Boil Water Advisory

When a boil water advisory is announced in advance, here are a few simple steps to help you prepare and minimize inconveniences:

Stock Up on Drinking Water

Fill clean bottles or containers with drinking water before the advisory begins.
Plan for about 2 liters of water per person per day for drinking and food preparation.
Set aside at least the same amount for your pets, especially for medium and large dogs. Cats and small dogs drink about half a liter per day.
Don’t forget to prepare water and a water bottle for your children to take to school.

Use Alternatives and Plan Daily Tasks Accordingly

If possible, purchase bottled water to simplify water management during the advisory.
Anticipate a temporary period of discolored water. In such cases, avoid washing light-colored laundry during this time.

Inform and Stay Informed

Check in with family members or neighbors, especially vulnerable individuals, to ensure they are also prepared and aware of the advisory.
Follow official City communications for updates on the boil water advisory:
- Sign up for citizen alerts via the Info Alert program: https://bedford.simsms.ca/
- Visit the City’s website for the latest updates.
- Follow the City’s Facebook page to stay informed.

By following these steps, you’ll be well-prepared to handle a boil water advisory with greater comfort and safety.