Water / Sewer Emergencies, Leaks and Main Breaks

What to do in the event of a water main break

• Did you see a Water Main Break sign in your area?

  Under normal circumstances, water main breaks are repaired and water is turned back on. Notification to the affected area is published to our email list and on this website under Water Notices. If you cannot find the notification on this website, it may mean the emergency did not occur under normal circumstances and we are working to get the information out. 

  The time it takes to fix a break varies due to several factors including the size of the break, digging in frozen ground, how quickly the break can be located, and the current weather conditions. The main may have been fixed overnight or while you were away from your home. You may not notice any changes in your home, but you also may notice cloudy or dirty water, air in your lines, low water pressure or no water. 

• Has your water been turned off due to a water emergency?

  The crews work quickly to return water service to the area that is affected, flush the lines where possible to reduce impacts to your water, and test to ensure the treatment levels are back to normal. 

  If you have lost water to your house or experience reduced water pressure, discolouration of the water, and/or air in their water, please run a cold water tap until the water has cleared. An outside tap is preferred. This should remove any disrupted water. 

  Customers in the affected area should boil their water for at least one minute when preparing food, drinking, washing fruits & vegetables, making beverages or ice or when brushing teeth. Updates will be posted to www.rdno.ca/news (filter by Water Notices) on the following business day. You can also subscribe to receive email updates at www.rdno.ca/subscribe.

• What is a water main break?

  A water main break occurs when a water pipe or fitting that delivers water, cracks or bursts. Your water lines or Greater Vernon Water lines can experience water main breaks for many reasons such as temperature changes, ground shifting, water pressure fluctuations, and the age of pipes can trigger water main pipe breaks. Signs of a water main break include low water pressure in your home, pooling water, or running of water on the street. Operators can typically fix the problem in a few hours to a few days, depending on the size and complexity of the water main break. 

• Do you have a water main break or an active water emergency on your property?

  You may need to shut off your property’s water supply to find the source of a water leak or to do construction or renovation work that affects plumbing systems.  There is often a valve near the water meter you can use to control water flow inside your property, but if you need to turn off the supply before that point, you will need to contact the applicable municipal office (see the below drop downs according to which utility you are connected to) to have an Operator locate and turn off your service. 

  Only property owners can request a service call unless it's an emergency.  When the Operator arrives, make sure that someone who can approve the service call fee is on site.

Types of Alerts

• Water Quality Advisory

  Used in situations where the public health threat posed by the water supply system is modest, and actions can be taken to reduce the risks through means other than requiring a Boil Water Notice or Do Not Use Water Notice. The RDNO will advise when the Water Quality Advisory is lifted through website updates and media releases. 

  Who should take precaution

  • People with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses
  • People under 12 and over 65 years of age
  • People wishing for additional protection

  How to take precaution

  • Boil water for one minute and allow to cool before use
  • Use an alternative water source (e.g. bottled water) 
• Boil Water Notice

  Used in situations where the public health threat posed by the water supply system is elevated and the nature of the threat is one that can be effectively addressed through boiling of the water. The RDNO will advise when the Boil Water Notice is lifted through website updates and media releases. 

  Scenarios where water should be boiled

  • Drinking
  • Beverage preparation
  • Washing and preparation of food
  • Brushing teeth
  • Making of ice
  • Constitution of baby formula

  How to take precaution

  • Bring water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow to cool before use
  • Use an alternative water source (e.g. bottled water)
• Do Not Use Notice

  Used in situations where a significant public health threat exists in relation to the water supply system, and the threat cannot be adequately addressed through a Water Quality Advisory or Boil Water Notice. Water is turned off at the source as it poses a serious health risk. You must not drink or use the water for any purpose. The RDNO will advise when the Do Not Use Notice is lifted through website updates and media releases. 

Report a water emergency based on relevant municipality