Boil-water advisory issued for 3,500 customers after Lower Sackville water main break

Halifax Water is advising some Halifax-area residents to boil their water before consuming because of a main break in the Lower Sackville area.

In a public service announcement issued early Saturday morning, the water utility said the affected areas are Fall River, Waverley, Windsor Junction, Capilano, Miller Lake, Frame, Silverside, Lakeview and Lower Sackville.

Some households may have had low water pressure or no water at all while the repair was being completed, but service was restored around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the utility. However, a boil-water advisory remains in effect, until further notice.

Halifax Water spokesperson James Campbell said the utility would require two safe water test results before lifting the advisory. He said he expected service to return to normal by Monday morning.

Campbell said the current risk is that water could be chlorinated below "best standards," but he emphasized that the advisory is precautionary. 

"We have no indications right now that there actually is a problem with the water, it really is a precautionary situation," he said Saturday morning.

The water main break has affected about 3,500 customers, according to Campbell.

In a public service announcement issued once the repair was completed, Halifax Water said all those affected may see discoloured water. The utility's website says discoloured water doesn't last long and is usually fixed by running the taps on cold for 10 minutes.

An initial water main break, at Cobequid Road and Glendale Drive, happened Friday morning. Campbell did not know the cause, but he said it was repaired without issues until crews started refilling the excavated area. During that process, another section of the main broke.

Halifax Water says affected residents should boil water for two minutes before drinking, making ice cubes, washing food, brushing teeth or any other activity requiring human consumption.