Dogs can take to the rainy streets with more confidence starting this month thanks to
Toronto Hydro's handwell replacement program, currently being rolled out across the six neighbourhoods in greatest need.
Handwells are the infrastructural hubs beneath those little metal discs in sidewalks that have made the news in recent years after electrocuting a couple of dogs due to worn or damaged wiring.
"I think anything that will help reduce the incidents of contact voltage is good for the city, says Toronto Hydro spokeswoman Denise Atallah.
The program, which is replacing 1,200 of the metal discs with ones made of non-conducting polymer concrete, began in May along the Danforth and Riverdale and will continue through 2011 in the Port Lands, Corktown, High Park, the Junction, Roncesvalles, South Kingsway, Lawrence Village and the Annex.
According to Atallah, it takes about half a day to replace each handwell, which houses the wiring needed for street lights, traffic lights and other municipal electricals. The handwells were originally installed during the 1950s and 60s when much of the city's wiring was transferred underground.
The program will continue after the initial neighbourhoods are complete, ultimately replacing a total of 2,300 handwells.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Denise Atallah
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