Cleanup continues in New Westminster as residents remain without power after water main break
Metro Vancouver officials say a three-foot diameter pipe burst just before midnight on Thursday
New Westminster resident Andre Pellerin never expected to be camping in his own home. But after living without power for the last two days, he says that's exactly what it feels like.
"We are using all our camping stuff to cook food," he told CBC News.
Pellerin has lived in a high-rise at 71 Jamieson Court near East Columbia St for three years. Late Thursday night, a three-foot diametre pipe burst near 240 Francis Way, sending torrents of water into nearby buildings, including his.
Floodwaters rushed into the lower floors of his building and the neighbouring tower at 71 Jamieson Court, submerging cars in parkades and damaging storage lockers.
"The water was up to my knees," Pellerin said, recalling what he saw when he went to check on his Hyundai Santa Fe, which he bought just three months ago. "I think [the water] was over the handle or something, so I knew my car was gone."
Power to the two high-rises was shut off after water entered the electrical rooms, and the City of New Westminster says the outage will continue until they dry out and are deemed safe to reconnect.
"They put out a notice that some generators are gonna come by. Beats me when it's gonna happen," said Pellerin.
He says he has already submitted a claim request for his car to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) and is waiting to hear a response after the long weekend.
For some other residents though, the damage has been irreplaceable.
Zell Rocha, an artist and music teacher who has lived in the building for five years, says she fears most of her artwork stored in the building's storage lockers has been lost.
"A lot of those artworks had to do with my stories as a disabled person and with my heritage," she said. "They are hard to replace…I am told that it can't be retrieved right now."
Around 50 residents evacuated from nearby residences
Water also flooded nearby buildings and around 50 residents from approximately 20 units along the 225 and 245 Francis Way had to be evacuated.
According to the city, some residents of the first-floor units were permitted to collect their belongings, though an engineer is still assessing whether they can remain. Most residents of 245 Francis Way have been able to return home.
Metro Vancouver said in an update Saturday that crews had stopped the flow of water from the water main "within a few hours of the leak being isolated."
Cause yet unknown
The cause of the water main break remains under investigation, says Brant Arnold-Smith, Division Manager of Protective Services and Emergency Management with Metro Vancouver.
"Our engineers and water services teams will be conducting a full investigation and then sharing updates on that investigation and outcome of that investigation with the public once we have more to share," he told CBC News Saturday afternoon.
Metro Vancouver began excavation to expose the broken water main in New Westminster yesterday afternoon, and that work continues this morning. We are working with <a href="https://twitter.com/New_Westminster?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@New_Westminster</a> to remove water from affected residences, including two high-rise buildings. <a href="https://t.co/w9t88MwjaH">pic.twitter.com/w9t88MwjaH</a>
—@MetroVancouverMetro Vancouver chief administrative officer Jerry Dobrovolny says the pipes were built in the 1960s and are half way through their life cycle.
"We'll have to take a look when once we can excavate and go in and take a look, to see what the cause of the failure was," he added.
Excavation began Friday afternoon to assess the cause of the break, and work continued through Saturday.
The regional district said it is working with the City of New Westminster to pump water out of buildings and restore access and power.
Crews have been working around the clock to pump water out of the buildings on Jamieson Court. As this water is currently going on the road, Columbia Street will remain closed until the pumping is complete. At this time we are estimating the road will reopen later today.
—@New_WestminsterMetro Vancouver warned that residents may notice cloudiness or reduced pressure in their drinking water, but the water remains safe to consume.
City says Columbia St remains closed in both directions between McBride Boulevard and Richmond St as crews continue to pump water from the buildings.
There is no timeline yet for when power will be restored to Jamieson Court or when all displaced residents can return home.
With files from Pinki Wong and Shaurya Kshatri