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A boil water order remains in place Tuesday for a large part of central Moncton following a water main break on Monday.
The notice applies to an area bordered by Wheeler Boulevard in the north and west, Millennium Boulevard in the south, and West Lane in the east, as well as the Westbrook Circle area. The city posted a map of the affected area.
Aloma Jardine, a spokesperson for the City of Moncton, said in an email Tuesday that there are approximately 3,700 water meters within that zone. The city estimates about 10,000 people are affected.
Residents and businesses within that area have been directed to bring water used for drinking, food preparation or brushing teeth to a rolling boil for one minute before use.
Moncton issued a boil water order to areas within the red zone after a water main broke Monday. (City of Moncton)
The city said the water is safe for bathing and washing hands, but people should avoid swallowing it.
Jardine said a water transmission line broke along Wheeler Boulevard near West Lane and that the cause of the break is unknown.
Work to repair the broken line started Tuesday and it is expected to affect traffic on Wheeler Boulevard — a four-lane highway that rings central Moncton. Jardine said the work is expected to take all day.
The water main break affected several public facilities, including the New Brunswick Community College which closed early on Monday. The Moncton Ringette Association posted on social media Monday that the issue led to cancellations of practices at the Greenfoot Energy 4plex and the Moncton Coliseum.
Water fountains at Saint-Henri school were turned off and bottled water was being provided to staff and students, according to an email from school officials to parents.
Order likely to last several days
The boil water order zone includes the Moncton Hospital. Kris McDavid, a spokesperson for Horizon Health Network, said in an email Tuesday that the hospital wasn’t affected as it had switched to a different water line.
Moncton’s website says it is working with the Department of Health and that water will be tested over 72 hours.
Jardine said once the water line is complete, two consecutive days of sampling must take place with good results before the order can be lifted.
Jardine said that likely means the order will remain in place until at least Thursday. The city says it will issue an update when the order is lifted.