Major water main break in Pointe-Claire causes temporary water disruption

The City of Pointe-Claire says it was forced to interrupt water supply in some areas due to a significant water main break on Friday evening.

"Our crews are currently on-site conducting the necessary diagnostics to repair the issue," the city said in a press release.

"The water service will be interrupted for several hours, and we estimate it will be restored by early afternoon."

However, by late Saturday afternoon, there was still no firm timeline for when the water service would be restored.

The Mayor of Pointe-Claire, Tim Thomas, said that the 60-centimetre pipe that burst had been inspected, and a replacement part would need to be manufactured, which could take time.

"It's an old pipe. It's an old pipe – 24 inches in diameter. And it's a biggie," Thomas said.

Andre Charbonneau, a resident of Pointe-Claire, told CTV News the water was shooting out like a geyser.

According to Thomas, the pipe belongs to the City of Montreal, and he noted that crews were aware it needed repairs.

"It had been warned about, and people knew that this was what needed to be done. And unfortunately it got to a point where now we really have to do it," he said.

In the meantime, Thomas said the city would be providing bottled water.  

According to the city, the break occurred at the intersection of Cartier Avenue and Bord-du-Lac-Lakeshore Road, resulting in a water outage. Motorists were also asked to avoid the area.

Here is the list of areas affected by the water disruption, which will then be under a boil water advisory once the service is restored.

• Bord-du-Lac–Lakeshore Road between Saint-Joachim and Victoria
• De Lourdes
• Sainte-Anne
• Saint-Joachim