Low reservoir levels are improving, but residents and businesses in the Town of Lunenburg are still being urged to conserve water after a breach at the Dares Lake dam. Emergency officials, engineers, and contractors first responded to the dam, which serves as the town’s drinking water source, around 4 p.m. Wednesday. The incident resulted in a reduction in the town’s available water supply. People in the town, located on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, have been told to conserve water since then. “Water conservation efforts have produced results overnight, with low reservoir levels continuing to improve,” said the Lunenburg County Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO) in an update on the situation Friday morning. “Two of the three pumps remain functional but not at full capacity. The third pump is not operational and will be replaced as soon as possible.” People are still being told to limit their non-essential water use as the conservation order remains in place. Drinking, cooking and sanitation are considered essential uses. The following uses of municipal water are prohibited: The town is also urging residents to: REMO says it may be able to ease some restrictions if water levels continue to stabilize. Water levels will be reassessed Friday afternoon. Dam stabilized Thursday evening, the town said crews had contained and stabilized the breach by strengthening the dam. REMO says the dam remains stable Friday, with berms and trenches diverting water from the pumphouse. The town continues to ask people to stay away from the Dares Lake area while emergency personnel, contractors and heavy equipment operations work at the site. “Local fire services have transitioned to rural firefighting operations if required. Water tankers and mutual aid resources are available and will be utilized as needed,” said REMO in a statement. “There is currently no immediate risk to public safety. Should additional measures be required, they will be activated to assist customers.” Closures and cancellations Bluenose Academy remains closed Friday due to the incident. The Town of Lunenburg’s Community Centre is also closed Friday. Most restaurants and coffee shops in the town are closed due to the water conservation order, though one bakery that makes its goods off-site is offering pastry takeout only. Nova Scotia Health says some non-urgent patient appointments at the Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital are being rescheduled due to the water shortage. Affected patients are being contacted directly, but Nova Scotia Health says anyone who has a medical appointment at the hospital should call ahead to confirm. The emergency department remains open. Mayor says dam that collapsed was new Mayor Jamie Myra said the dam was newly installed, and it looks like the entre thing collapsed. “It was installed over the last nine months and basically what happened yesterday from the pictures I’ve seen… is that the dam basically cracked down through the middle, one section basically fell into the lake almost immediately, and then a couple hours later the right side fell into the lake, so we actually have no dam,” he told CTV News Atlantic’s Callum Smith on Thursday. Myra said he’s disappointed and frustrated by the breach. “We don’t know exactly what happened, so at this point there’s no sense in laying blame – I know there will have to be answers given, there will be lots of questions to ask when this is done. Right now, our number one priority is fixing the problem.” With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Natalie Lombard, Callum Smith and Sean Mott For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
