A local state of emergency in Conception Bay South has been lifted after water levels in the community have refilled to an adequate level. (Heather Gillis/CBC)
The state of emergency has been lifted in Conception Bay South as water tanks have now refilled to an adequate level.
A news release just before 5:30 p.m. NT said repairs were completed, and water tanks were refilled, following work by repair crews overnight. Tanks had been filling slower than expected, but reached an adequate level Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re back to what we could call a safe level of water in the town. We’re not at 100 per cent, but that wasn’t where the bar was set from the beginning when we started getting the water back,” C.B.S. Mayor Darrin Bent said Wednesday evening, adding he expects the system to be operating at 100 per cent by Thursday morning.Â
With the state of emergency lifted, businesses can reopen effective immediately. Businesses were ordered to close on Tuesday, with the exception of pharmacies for urgent prescription services and gas stations for fuel sales only.
A mandatory water conservation order for residents has also been lifted. The Town said residents might experience minor water discolouration or pressure fluctuations, and noted that water should always been used responsibly.
“We just ask people not to use extra water if they don’t have to, but feel free to do all those things around the house that you would normally do,” Bent said. “We’re very confident that the water supply is fully accessible.”
The state of emergency delayed the first day of school for students in Conception Bay South.
Topsail Elementary, St. Edward’s School, Holy Spirit High School, St. George’s Elementary, Admiral’s Academy, Villanova Junior High, Upper Gullies Elementary School, Frank Roberts Junior High School, and Queen Elizabeth Regional High were all closed for the day on Wednesday.
All nine schools in Conception Bay South delayed their first day of school following the water emergency in the town. (Eddy Kennedy)
The local state of emergency was declared Tuesday following a water main break on the transmission line, which provides water to the town. The Town identified the source of the leak as coming from a piece of pipe operated by the St. John’s Regional Water Authority.
The City of St. John’s completed the repairs to the water main overnight. Bent said Wednesday morning the Town’s first priority was ensuring there’s enough water pressure and volume for fire suppression.
“This has never happened before. An entire town shut down water. So, we’re very cautious as we flow the water back into our community,” he told The St. John’s Morning Show.
WATCH |Â Schools and businesses reopen and water is flowing again in C.B.S.: 
C.B.S. residents are ‘back to normal’ life with regular water use, but mayor says old pipes mean breaks will happen
The state of emergency was lifted at 5:30 Wednesday evening for the roughly 30,000 residents in the town of Conception Bay South, after a water main break that depleted the water supply. The CBC’s Peter Cowan reports.
Businesses were told they wouldn’t reopen until water levels were safe and adequate.
Krista Neville, owner of Identity Salon and Volcano Bakery in C.B.S., said she was putting colour in a client’s hair when the state of emergency was first issued Tuesday.
“We just had to rinse it out. Get everyone done and out the door,” Neville said.
This is the second state of emergency C.B.S. has issued in less than a month.Â
“I was unsure what all of it meant. Was I going to get home and have absolutely no water? I didn’t know, how long is this going to go on, what caused it, was there a fire, was this some time of malicious activity going on? I honestly didn’t know,” Neville said.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.