The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission is asking Chatham residents to cut back on non-essential water use from August 24 through August 28, 2026, while crews repair a major water transmission line along Charing Cross Road — the line that feeds the Chatham Water Treatment Plant.
What's affected
Drinking, cooking, bathing, and other essential household water use are all unaffected. The ask applies to non-essential use:
Long showers
Washing vehicles
Watering lawns and gardens
Filling pools
Why the repair matters
The work is routine maintenance rather than an emergency fix, but the PUC says keeping demand down helps the system handle reduced capacity while the transmission line is out of service. A few small habit changes this week — skipping the car wash, cutting back on lawn watering — make it a lot easier for the system to keep up, rather than risking actual pressure issues if demand outpaces what's available mid-repair.
Why it matters to CK
Nobody wants to think about their water supply until it's a problem, and this isn't one — yet. But cooperating now is a simple, low-effort way to make sure it stays that way through the end of the week.
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