Water main break disrupts Dawson City Yukon businesses

Water Main Break Affects Downtown Dawson City

A major water main break left parts of downtown Dawson City, Yukon, coated in ice on Friday. The town’s school and some businesses are closed.

Some homes in the downtown area are also without water. Town officials are asking residents to conserve water where possible.

Details of the Incident

Dave Henderson, the town’s chief administrative officer, said the trouble began earlier in the week when the main broke, affecting Robert Service School. The line then broke again, causing localized floods and cutting off water to more homes and businesses.

“Crews believe they’ve stabilized the system. They’ve identified priority areas. They’re working at it. They’re feeling rather confident we’re working in the right direction,” he said on Friday.

Current Status of Repairs

The town said Friday afternoon that workers have stabilized the leak on 4th Ave. and restored water to the school. Henderson said the town will identify properties with frozen pipes. He urges anyone without water to turn off their hot water heater but leave their bleeders on.

Classes at Robert Service School were cancelled on Friday. Henderson added it’s too soon to say when service will be fully restored. Town staff have been working long hours to repair the damage, but with overnight temperatures approaching –40 C, conditions are tough for both workers and equipment.

Community Impact

“It’s hard to be absolutely certain about anything other than all hands on deck,” he said. Standing in front of a gaping hole in the street at the intersection of 4th Ave. and Queen Street, one town worker said he worked a 20-hour day Thursday and was back on the job at 8:30 a.m. on Friday. He said crews were making progress and morale was high.

The town said on Friday that residents without service can use the recreation centre for water or showers.

Business Closures

Dawson City’s iconic Westminster Hotel, also known as The Pit, is flooded. “The old gal has had a rough night,” the hotel’s owners wrote in a Facebook post. “There has been considerable damage caused by a water main break and so the beloved Pit will be closed for the time being as we get the damage assessed and our ducks in a row for needed repairs.”

“We’ll keep on swimming over here and keep you all updated as the situation unfolds.”

Lee Manning, who owns the Yukon Spa, said his business, its staff house, and his own house were all without water on Friday morning. He said the spa remains closed and he doesn’t know when it will be able to reopen.

“There are elderly residents in the community and people that can’t get around,” Manning said. “I mean, they’re without water as well. So the impact is for everyone, really many people are without water.”

Community Support

The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government opened its community hall for water and showers. It’s also arranging water deliveries to Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in citizens who need them.