Seabrook Ave: Watermain Replacement & Road Resurfacing

City of Toronto: construction expected Feb 8 - Aug 5, 2021

TEXT VERSION:

Construction Notice

Watermain Replacement and Road Resurfacing on Seabrook Avenue

Contract: 21ECS-LU-01SU

Start Date: February 8 2021

End Date: August 5 2021 *Timeline is subject to change.

The City of Toronto will replace the watermain and the City-owned portion of substandard water services on Seabrook Avenue from Rustic Road to the end of the street. The water service is the underground pipe that brings water to your water meter and is owned by you and by the City. The part you own is from your house to the end of your property, the part the City owns is from the end of your property to the watermain. This project is part of the Council-approved 2021 Capital Works Program to renew our aging infrastructure, improve water distribution and reduce the risk of watermain breaks.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 AND CONSTRUCTION WORK IN TORONTO

During construction, the contractor is responsible for the Health & Safety on site under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act and is expected to implement COVID-19 mitigation practices. For more information on the City's response to COVID-19 please visit toronto.ca/covid-19.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD WATER SERVICES

If you live on Seabrook Avenue in the area described above in a house that was built before the mid-1950s, your water service may be made of lead. Please read the attached fact sheet with important information about the risks of lead in drinking water, especially if someone in your house is pregnant, there are children under six years old, or there is an infant drinking formula made using tap water.

WORK DETAILS

The City’s contractor will:

•excavate the road and dig a trench to access and install the new watermain

•replace any City-owned water service pipes that do not meet City standards from the watermain to the private property line

•restore all areas affected by construction

•and resurface the roadway

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING CONSTRUCTION

•You may experience dust, noise and other inconveniences. The City will make efforts to reduce the impacts. We appreciate your patience.

•Work in the boulevard in front of homes and commercial properties is expected. This work includes removing and replacing driveways, municipal sidewalks, and grassed boulevards, where necessary.

•Property owners should remove items located within City property limits (boulevard), such as landscaping and or decorative objects before the work starts. The City will not be responsible for damage to any privately owned items on City property.

Work Hours: Work will take place from 7 a.m.to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday, with work after hours and on weekends as required.

Pre-Construction Inspection: OZA Inspections Ltd., under contract to Kore Infrastructure Group, will survey all properties within 30 metres of the construction area before construction starts. Participation in the survey is voluntary; however, participating is important in determining if the construction caused damage. The inspection will look at the interior and exterior of all properties to verify existing conditions. Affected properties will receive a separate notice to set up an appointment. All inspection staff will wear photo I.D. and carry photo equipment for this work.

Physical Distancing

There are times when contractors need to communicate with homeowners about what is happening on-site. This could be about driveway access, water shut offs, exterior pre-construction inspections, and site restoration work (landscaping, installing pavers etc.). Contractor's staff will be identifiable by their high-visibility clothing.

Where possible, a phone number for a contact person on-site will be provided on notices, to answer questions about work near your property. At other times, the contractor may knock on your door, but will then step away the required distance to discuss the work that is taking place and what can be expected that day. Please practice physical distancing with workers so everyone can remain safe. If you have questions, call the contact provided on this notice.

Important information for owners of sprinkler systems / heated driveways and private landscaping features. Property owners should remove items located within City property limits (boulevard) to avoid damage.

This includes items such as landscaping (plants and pavers), decorative objects, sprinkler systems or heated driveways. If you have a sprinkler system or heated driveway, please contact the Field Ambassador listed below.

Telephone and Internet Services:

This work may affect phone and internet cables for individual properties that aren't buried deep below the sidewalk. The contractor will coordinate with utility companies to minimize disruption. Residents who find their service has been disrupted should contact the Field Ambassador and notify their phone or internet service provider.

Water Service Disruptions:

From time-to-time, the water supply to your property will be shut-off to complete construction; the contractor will provide notice at least 24-hours in advance. Throughout the work, it is recommended that you temporarily disconnect any water treatment systems (i.e. softeners or filters),water-cooled air conditioners or similar plumbing fixtures. Automatic lawn sprinkler systems may also be affected, therefore, you may need to water manually. In the event you did not receive advance notice, the City may have needed to use an emergency water shut off to complete work.

Substandard Water Service Replacement:

Please take the time to read the attached fact sheet carefully as it contains important information on lead in drinking water and how to prepare for replacement. If you want to replace the private portion of the water service pipe, the City of Toronto recommends that you obtain several quotes before selecting a contractor. PLEASE NOTE: The City is not able to get involved in any contract to have work done on private property. Property owners are responsible for ensuring contractors do not interfere with the work being done on City property. Learn more at www.toronto.ca/leadpipes.

Road and Sidewalk Access:

In order to complete the work in a safe manner, there will be road and sidewalk restrictions within the work zone. Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.

Driveway Access:

The contractor will notify you of any temporary restrictions to your driveway access. If your property has two entrances, one entrance will be kept open at all times.

Traffic Management:

Efforts have been made to manage traffic in the area for the safety of workers, road users and residents. Road users should expect delays and increased traffic on nearby main and side streets.

Traffic on Seabrook Avenue will be reduced to one lane.

Snow Removal:

Within the limits of the construction zone, the contractor is responsible for providing ice and snow removal to maintain safe sidewalks and roads. Residents are still responsible for winter maintenance of their driveways.

Parking:

Parking in the active work zone is not permitted as space is needed for construction equipment and materials. This project will affect on-street parking. If your parked vehicle affects construction work, it will be relocated with no charge to the owner. Please call 416-808-2222 for its location.

Parking Violation Notice:

In an effort to reduce ticketing due to construction, the City encourages communities with construction to be patient as neighbours may need to temporarily relocate vehicles. If enforcement is called, enforcement must issue a yellow parking violation notice (ticket). If you receive a yellow notice during this construction work, do the following within 15 days of the notice date:

1)Contact the site inspector or person listed on the Construction Notice and give them the yellow notice number.

2)Dispute the parking violation notice online or in person following the process listed on the reverse side of the parking violation notice.

You may use this construction notice as part of the explanation of why the violation should be cancelled. Please note: violation notices cannot be cancelled if vehicles are parked in illegal parking spots (i.e. in front of a fire hydrant or in no parking zones).

Accessible Accommodation:

Residents who require accommodation (level entry, longer notice, etc.) must contact the Field Ambassador to arrange for access during the construction period.

Garbage and Recycling:

Please follow your normal routine. If required, the contractor will move bins to an appropriate location and return them. Please ensure that you label your bins with your address.

Water Flushing:

You will see water flushing or running in several areas along this project enabling the contractor to clean the new watermain. Before substandard water services are replaced to properties and the new watermain is put into service, the contractor ensures the new pipe meets Toronto Water's servicing and quality standards. Please DO NOT DRINK OR USE THE FLUSHING WATER, it is not potable.

Restoration:

The construction work area will be restored with sod and/or asphalt where required. Interlocking bricks, flagstone on a granular base, or other similar features that are removed from public and private property during construction will be replaced. Lawn seeding and/or laying of sod will be done as needed during ideal growing seasons only - in the spring (April to June) and fall (September to October).

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

If you have questions about the upcoming work, please contact us.

Contract: 21ECS-LU-01SU

Project Manager / Field Ambassador: Aaron Bell, 647-299-8601, TorontoPM6@rvanderson.com

TTY Hearing Impaired Service: 416-338-0889 (7 Days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed holidays)

General inquiries: 311

Website: toronto.ca/improvements/ward5.htm

Thank you for your patience. Building a great city takes time. Better infrastructure for all of us is worth the wait.

Lead in Drinking Water

The City of Toronto is sending you two notices to tell you about construction the City will be doing near your home soon. The first one is called a "Pre-Construction Notice" and it is sent about 3 months before the work begins. The second one is called a “Construction Notice” and it is sent 1-4 weeks before the work begins. You should have one of these notices in your mailbox today.

The construction could involve work on your road, watermain or sewer. It may also involve

replacing the City-owned part of your water service pipe, which may contain lead.

Lead can affect how the brain and nervous system grows, so this factsheet is very important to read if someone in your house is pregnant, if there are children under 6 years old, or if there is an infant drinking formula made from tap water.

Water Pipe Replacement

The underground pipe that brings water to your water meter

(called the service pipe) is owned by you and by the City. The

part that the City owns goes from the municipal watermain to

your property line. The part that you own goes from your property

line to your water meter.

During construction, if the City finds that the water pipe is made

of lead, it will replace the City-owned part. To protect your health,

Toronto Public Health strongly recommends that you

replace your part of the water pipe if it contains lead. Find

out how by reading the back of this Fact Sheet.

Lead, Drinking Water and Your Health

- If you live in a house built before the mid-1950s and the water service

pipe has never been replaced, it is probably made of lead. If it is, then

lead may be getting into your drinking water.

- Lead is most harmful to the growing brain and nervous system of a fetus,

infant or child under 6 years old. If a young child has too much lead in their

body, it can lead to a shortened attention span, and intellectual and

behavioural problems.

- If you have a baby at home: Breast milk is the healthiest option for feeding

your baby. If you have made an informed decision to formula feed your

baby, begin with cold filtered tap water, boil it and then let it cool. Use

within 30 minutes. You can also consider using ready-to-feed formula.

- The best way to reduce lead in drinking water is to replace both parts of a lead water pipe.

How to prepare for lead water pipe replacement

Once construction begins, the contractor will be able to see the underground water pipe and will know for sure if the City-owned portion is made of lead and needs to be replaced. A City staff person or City-hired contractor will tell you in person or leave a note in your mailbox if they are replacing the service to your property. In the meantime, you can take steps to prepare for the possible replacement.

Step 1: Find out if your part of the water pipe is made of lead.

- If your house was built before the mid-1950s, then the water service pipe is probably made of lead, unless it was replaced at another time. You can find out how old your house is by asking the landlord or checking the ownership papers.

- If possible, look at the pipe that goes into your water meter. If it is grey, scratches easily and

does not sound hollow when you tap it, it may be made of lead.

To know for sure, ask a plumber or home inspector.

Step 2: Find a contractor to replace your part of the water pipe.

- Get at least three quotes from a licensed plumber to get the best price. Replacing your part of the water pipe could cost approximately $3,000 but will be dependent on the characteristics of your home.

- If you received a "Construction Notice" in your mailbox today, this means that the City will be doing the work in 1-4 weeks and has hired its own contractor. You can ask them for a quote.

Look for their name and phone number in the Notice. Sometimes, the City-hired contractor

may not be able to do the work for you due to their schedule. This is why it is good for you to

get quotes from other contractors before work starts.

- If you hire your own contractor, they must replace your part of the water pipe either before or after the City-hired contractor replaces the City-owned part. Private contractors cannot work at the site at the same time as the City-hired contractor. Be sure that your contractor

understands this and can tell you the best way for coordinating the work to save you the most

money.

Step 3: Learn more about protecting your health after a lead water pipe is replaced

- After a lead water pipe is replaced, there may be a temporary increase of lead in your drinking water. The City will provide you with tips and a free water filter to help reduce the health impact from any temporary lead increase.

To learn more about lead pipe replacement and other ways that the City of Toronto is

working to reduce lead in drinking water, visit toronto.ca/leadpipes or call 311.