The cast iron watermain that ruptured Saturday on Rothesay Avenue by Staples was made back in 1873. It had a couple of horizontal cracks and was corroded.
District Medical Health Officer Dr. Scott Giffin says it points out the need for aging infrastructure to be replaced. He adds if you drink the water without first boiling it, chances are you won’t get sick but there’s still the risk of contracting salmonella and ecoli along with other types of water borne bacteria.
The transmission line that broke was slated for replacement under the clean water programme according to the city’s Deputy Commissioner of Water, Kendall Mason. He adds all of the wooden watermains have been replaced.
The boil water order is estimated to affect more than 35 thousand people from Reversing Falls east to Russell Street and it will remain in force until at least late tomorrow or early Wednesday.
The first of the water samples collected have been sent off to be analysed by an independent lab.
