Côte-des-Neiges residents forced to use portable toilets after water main break

Imagine coming home from a long day and being told you can’t use your bathroom. Instead, you’re pointed to an outdoor portable toilet.

That’s been the reality for hundreds of Côte-des-Neiges residents since Wednesday, June 20.

“Yesterday night, I had no water in my building,” said Boubacar Sek.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Yesterday night, I had no water in my building," said Boubacar Sek.

On Wednesday, the Côte-des-Neiges high-rise had its water cut off, and the portable toilets appeared not long after.

READ MORE: Water-main break leads to detours to Sacré-Coeur Hospital

“The residents are upset, of course,” said building manager Max Stenzler.

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“It’s an act of god. You cannot predict when something breaks. We take it for granted when we have water, but when they don’t, people freak out.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's an act of god. You cannot predict when something breaks. We take it for granted when we have water, but when they don't, people freak out."

The trouble started with a water main break underground on Tuesday.

“On the 19th, the water started coming up from the street. We called it in, they came right away and opened it up to see what’s the problem,” Stenzler explained.

READ MORE: Vaudreuil-Dorion issues boil water advisory following water main break

The city told Global News some underground wires in the way complicated things. They had to call Bell to move their wires over to make room for the workers to fix the water.

There was a delay, and that’s when the decision was made to bring in a truckload of water bottles and portable toilets. As workers tackled the broken pipe underground, the mobile bathrooms were brought in because they were the only option for residents.

“I’m going to take a shower at my friend’s apartment,” said Sek.

The building manager praised the city for taking quick action.

Water had been restored to all the apartment units by Thursday afternoon, according to Stenzler.

The emergency work also caused traffic headaches. Côte-des-Neiges Road southbound between Forest Hill and Ridgewood avenues is closed.

Repairs are expected to be completed by Saturday.