Home / Disasters and Accidents / Kamloops Water Crisis: 8,000 Homes Left Dry
Kamloops Water Crisis: 8,000 Homes Left Dry
14 May
Summary
- Water main break caused 8,000 Kamloops households to lose supply.
- Crews worked to repair a 500-millimetre concrete pipe with PVC.
- Residents were urged not to use water until repair completion.
Kamloops construction crews have been actively repairing a critical water main break that disrupted service for approximately 8,000 households. The water supply, shut off since early Tuesday, was technically flowing again as of Thursday, but residents were urged to conserve until repairs concluded by 6 p.m. The affected pipe, a 500-millimetre concrete line along River Street, was being patched with a PVC section.
City officials emphasized the necessity of community cooperation to ensure the repair's success, noting that water usage had depleted reservoirs. The process of restoring full service and testing water safety could take up to two weeks. Kamloops Thompson School District schools reopened with essential water services available.
Some residents expressed frustration regarding the city's communication methods, with one restaurant owner noting a lack of direct notification. The city acknowledged lessons learned from the incident regarding public information dissemination. Crews aimed to finish the main repair by the end of Thursday.
