Extensive damage after watermain break near downtown Kelowna

A handful of properties have been flooded due to a watermain break near Kelowna’s downtown.

City crews were alerted to the watermain break just after 4 a.m. at the corner of Water Street and Boyce Crescent.

According to the city, it’s a a 250 millimetre (1o inch) watermain break.

“So right now they’re fixing the main line.  It’s a 300 diameter piece,” said Rod MacLean, utility planning manager with the City of Kelowna. “They’re going to replace it with PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride).

The break has caused extensive damage to the roadway.

It has also flooded a number of properties, including two apartment buildings.

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Restoration services are also on-site for flood repair.

The city expects to have the repairs completed by the end of the day but added that restoration work will continue throughout the weekend.

“This pipe here is about 50, a little over 50 years old as far as we know,” said MacLean. “It might be a bit older as being cast iron.  These pipes can last anywhere from 75 to 100 years so this particular spot, we haven’t really done an assessment yet on what exactly is the cause of the break.”

Traffic is not impacted by the watermain break.

However, the city is asking residents to away from the area while crews repair the damage.

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