OttawaCrews are now working to repair a water main break that’s affecting Pembroke, Ont., and neighbouring Laurentian Valley for more than a week.’We’re all in this together’ says head of local volunteer organizationCBC News · Posted: Nov 29, 2025 1:24 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.A water main break in Pembroke, Ont., is expected to be repaired by the middle of next week, according to the mayor. (Buntola Nou/CBC)Crews are working to repair a water main break that’s been affecting Pembroke, Ont., and neighbouring Laurentian Valley for more than a week.”I understand that it’s an inconvenience for individuals. However, the end is very near,” said Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais.”It’s certainly a good reminder to the public not to take for granted a resource such as water.” The public was alerted to the problem on Nov. 21, when the city asked everyone to reduce their water usage for two weeks due to a “major water main break.” Some people had lost water entirely, but service was restored around 9:30 p.m.Miramichi Lodge, a long-term care home, was the only place not reconnected to water the same day. Gervais told CBC that’s because it’s a “more complex building,” and the County of Renfrew wrote in a public release that a temporary non-potable water supply was provided to the lodge for the duration of the disruption. Repairs on the water main are expected to be finished by Tuesday and on Wednesday they will be testing to ensure the water quality is “perfect,” Gervais said. Until then, Gervais said it’s important that residents keep conserving water because, if a fire broke out, they would need to ensure there was enough available water to suppress it. Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais said he appreciates the Pembroke and Laurentian Valley residents who have been conserving water, and understands it’s an inconvenience for them. (City of Pembroke/YouTube)’All in this together’The Grind, a local volunteer organization, is trying to reduce the amount of water it uses while the repairs take place.”We’re all in this together,” said Jerry Novack, its executive director.The Grind provides meals and other services to the local homeless population, but Novack said they’ve made adjustments to accommodate reduced water usage.”We went back to paper plates and paper cups, reducing the number of showers and the number of laundry loads that we do during the day,” he said. It’s been frustrating for their clients, he explained, because they weren’t sure when water would be restored. Novack said they completely stopped shower bookings at first, then slowly added them back.Now that there’s a tentative date for the water to be restored, they’re hoping to do the same with laundry bookings, and continue to increase shower bookings, until they’ve returned to normal. With files from Jodie Applewaithe
Pembroke water service expected to return to normal next week
