The water wagons are back on main street in Bowness, after the neighbourhood’s latest water main break, which this time has also caused a massive sinkhole along a busy stretch of Bowness Road. Residents say this has been happening rather frequently lately.
“This is the third one like this in the last 3 weeks, month or so,” said one resident.
He adds that his home still has water, and that the only inconvenience he’ll face is the repairs blocking off handicap parking spots on the street.
“People who get their water turned off, that’s a little more frustrating, eh. But what are you going to do?”
Brewsmith is one of the businesses impacted by the break – located directly across from the sinkhole.
“Losing a Saturday, Sunday is a lot bigger impact than a Monday, Tuesday or something like that. Summer is our biggest season, and the patio is popular, so unfortunate timing,” said Miranda Mitchell, a co-owner of Brewsmith.
Although the business can’t really operate without water, it’s still open, selling cans at a 10 per cent discount, in what they’re calling a sinkhole sale. Mitchell adds that despite all the infrastructure issues plaguing Bowness, they’re still dug in in the neighbourhood.
“All of our customers are awesome. We’ve got lots of great regulars, and lots of new people coming in. Yeah, I think this is the spot we want to be,” said Mitchell.
One lady jokes about how she’s adapting to the recent sinkhole issues.
“Well, I bike around Bowness, and I wear a PFD now because I’m afraid I’m going to fall into a sinkhole and drown,” she explained.
CityNews soon learned that the joke was based in truth, as a cyclist recently did fall into a sinkhole.
“I checked outside and saw they were like putting the guy in the ambulance; I’ll be honest, that leg did not look good,” said Edmund Foo, who works at Reliquary Cards, a nearby card shop.
He says while they don’t need running water to operate, the bathroom situation is rather inconvenient for the staff.
“I think the fact that we have to run to Tim Hortons is the worst part. But also not being able to just drink water from the sink is pretty bad as well,” said Foo.
A sinkhole on Bowness Road on Aug. 9, 2026. (CityNews)
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