City of Nanaimo crews work to clear water from a main break early Wednesday morning on Third St. between Bruce Ave. and Howard Ave. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

water main

Road closure and significant damage from Nanaimo water main break

May 24, 2023 | 9:27 AM

UPDATE — The City of Nanaimo tells NanaimoNewsNOW water service was restored for affected residents around 3:30 p.m. while the road will open around 7 p.m.

Travellers are asked to still use caution in the area is it remains an active construction zone until a patch on the road surface can be made.

EARLIER — NANAIMO — A section of water main has broken in the city’s south end.

Crews from the City of Nanaimo, along with Nanaimo Fire Rescue are on scene on Third St., between Howard Ave. and Bruce Ave. after a water main broke on Wednesday, May 24 around 8:30 a.m. The incident was reported by RCMP who noted water bubbling on the road surface.

City director of public works John Elliot told NanaimoNewsNOW Third St. is closed from near Howard Ave. to Bruce Ave. with signs posted at each end.

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“It did some substantial road damage, we lost about half a million litres of water in through the break and it took out quite a section of road way, damaged the road way.”

Cracking was visible along Third St. between Howard Ave. and Bruce Ave. following a water main break Wednesday morning. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Approximately 300 metres of Third St. was significantly damaged as a result of the rupture.

The water main dates back to 1961 and is roughly eight inches in diameter.

After removing excess water, crews will mark for utility lines underground and begin repairs.

Elliot is hopeful service will be restored to affected residents by Wednesday afternoon.

“We’ve isolated the area west of Pine St. to Howard Ave. It encompasses about ten single family properties then there’s an apartment complex that’s affected by this shut down.”

After the water main is fixed, crews will remove any damaged asphalt, build the road base back up and install a temporary patch until a permanent repair can be made.

A substantial amount of water was lost in the break, with pooling in the surrounding area. (Submitted photo)

David Myles, city manager of utilities, said on scene they’re still figuring out the extent of damage and will know more as they dig up the road surface.

He added the line was coming to the end of its life.

“We will be putting this on a list after this to accelerate its replacement. Unfortunately, we have a lot of pipe in the ground in the City, both sewer and water main, that are older and we periodically have these types of failures before we get there to replace them.”

Travellers are asked to obey all traffic control personnel on scene and drive through the surrounding area with caution.

Nearby resident Gail Kay said she wasn’t even aware there was an issue until her sump pump alarm started going off for her unfinished basement.

“I went down to the basement to see why the alarm was going off and could see water coming in to a spot in the basement so I opened the basement door and saw the water that was flooding across the street and down the ditch in front of my home and the next two houses.”

She added there’s minor damage inside her basement, but they’ll use fans to clear the water.

The biggest inconvenience was around five yards of gravel washing up across her driveway, meaning she had to cancel an appointment.

Third St. is closed Wednesday morning between Bruce Ave. and near Howard Ave. as a result of a water main break. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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