As if we needed further inspiration for our March/April issue on aging water infrastructure. Just now, the (unoccupied, luckily) building next door to our offices fell victim to a watermain break (see photos below). Major excitement for the Water Canada team, let me tell ya.
‘Tis the season. Every year around this time, as if watermains didn’t break the year before, a slew of commentary reaches the ears of the public. Over the weekend, Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood saw an eight-hour blackout due to a broken watermain, prompting Globe and Mail columnist Margaret Wente to claim that this country is falling apart. The Toronto Star shared similar sentiments. So why haven’t these yearly lamentations reached the ears of our politicians? (Or rather, the keys to their coffers?)
I suppose, if anything, I’m just glad Toronto’s city services are not as limited this winter as they were last summer.
January 14th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Are you sure this was a broken water main? Looks like (from the picture on left) that the water is from a broken sprinkler system… which is why the fire department was called. I would check your story.
January 14th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
The water pressure from inside the building is so strong that it’s hitting the ceiling and then going in a downward motion. That’s probably what makes it look like a sprinkler. You should’ve seen the indoors. The super said the basement was completely flooded.