Half the population without water in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, state of emergency declared
Posted November 30, 2023 9:27 am.
About half the population of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, in the Montérégie region, is without drinking water due to a major water main break earlier this week, which forced the city to declare a state of emergency on Wednesday.
The boil water advisory affects more than 26,000 residential, commercial and industrial addresses in the Saint-Luc and L’Acadie sectors, as well as part of the Saint-Jean area.
The return to normal on the West Shore is so far uncertain, as the repair work involves a “complex and technical operation”, according to the city. The cut will be maintained at least until the end of the day on Thursday, it added in a press release. But, the city said they are currently working on the final step of repair work before water can be restored.
During this time, affected residents can get water at two supply points. They can receive two free 4-litre containers of drinking water per address per day.
The water main break occurred at the intersection of Saint-Jacques and Caldwell streets on Monday. The city explains that “a junction broke on a 750-millimetre-diameter main that supplies the north end of the city”.
Repair work is progressing, the municipal administration says, but will require “time and specialized parts”, it warns.
Depending on the location, residents, businesses and industries are still receiving low-pressure water from their taps, but must boil it for at least one minute before consumption.
The city invites those who still have access to water on the west bank to significantly reduce their consumption in solidarity with their fellow citizens who are affected.
By declaring a local state of emergency, the municipality is granting itself “exceptional powers (…) to take immediate action”.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 29, 2023.
