Listen to this article
Estimated 5 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
A water main break has left more than 100 residents without water for more than two days in Toronto’s east end.
Some residents say the city has given them few answers as to when it will be fixed, but officials say repairs are taking longer than expected due to complications.
The break, which happened early Wednesday, is affecting 35 homes and one residential building in the area of Coxwell Avenue and Gerrard Street E. It was reported to Toronto police shortly after 4:30 a.m. Police said no one was injured by the break.
Crews worked through the night on Wednesday to fix the water main, which dates back to 1911. Eastbound lanes on a stretch of Gerrard Street E. are closed as the work continues.
Kristina Kennedy, a resident, said she hasn’t been able to shower in three days.
“It’s honestly been a nightmare,” Kennedy said.
‘It obviously doesn’t smell good’: resident
Kennedy said residents were not notified when it happened initially and they woke up not knowing why they had no water. The superintendent of her building informed residents of the break.
“We’ve been chasing the city around for answers since Wednesday,” Kennedy said.
“We’ve been trying to get information from the city repeatedly with really no real answers and no real plan as to what to do in the interim while this situation continues.”
Kennedy said it’s hard for some people with disabilities or who don’t have a car to get to the store to get water. She said the bottled water being provided by the city is not enough.
“It takes around three litres of water just to flush the toilet one time,” Kennedy said. “The toilet is a huge challenge with kids and multiple people. It obviously doesn’t smell good. The dishes are piling up. It’s just not a pleasant situation all around.”
The 115-year-old water main, a thick cast iron pipe, was already scheduled for repairs when it broke, the city says. (John Sandeman/CBC)
Kennedy said she received a response from Mayor Olivia Chow, whose office said: “I’m very sorry for how disruptive and frustrating this has been, especially given the lack of clear information residents received.
They mayor went on to say her office is working with city staff to co-ordinate across agencies and “get the work done as soon as possible.”
“We have been assured that the General Manager of Toronto Water is personally handling this case to ensure the work is being done and local residents are being kept informed and safe.”
Kennedy said an estimated time for restoration of water service would be welcome.
“We just want some guidance. It’s been chaos,” Kennedy said. “It’s very frustrating.”
In a statement, Coun. Brad Bradford’s office said: “Our office has been in direct contact with city staff since the break happened and is pushing for a firmer repair timeline. We’re following up directly with affected residents and will keep doing so until service is fully restored.”
City ‘actively supporting’ residents, it says
According to the city, homes and the building without water are on Gerrard Street E. between Coxwell Avenue and Wembley Drive.
The city says it “actively supporting” residents by providing bottled water and a water trailer at 339 Coxwell Ave., south of Gerrard Street E. Residents can refill containers with drinking water at the water trailer, the city said.
“We understand how difficult this has been for residents, particularly those who have been without water service for an extended period,” Bill Shea, director of distribution and collection for Toronto Water, said in a statement on Friday.
“This repair has proven more complex than initially anticipated due to the age of the watermain, challenging ground conditions and the presence of other underground utilities that crews must carefully work around.”
‘This was a blowout,’ Toronto Water official says
In an interview on Thursday, Shea said the 115-year-old water main, a thick cast iron pipe, was already scheduled for repairs when it broke. He said the typical lifespan of a water main is more than 100 years.
“All of these over time, especially if the soil conditions are acidic, start to slowly break that pipe down and it can break,” he said. “This was a blowout. The side of the pipe blew out.”
Shea said he had hoped it would be fixed by Thursday evening but crews were still at work on Friday afternoon.
The water came back briefly on Thursday before a small leak forced it off again.
For resident Ryan Wilcox, the biggest frustration is what he says is a lack of communication. He said residents found out from the media that crews were going to work overnight on Wednesday.
“It’s been three days now without running water,” he said. “I feel like a little more could have been done.”