 UPDATE September 3, 2025, 11:00 am
WATER MAIN REPAIRED IN CBS AS STATE OF EMERGENCY REMAINS
Repairs have been completed on a major water main supplying Conception Bay South (CBS) - which runs under a river between Three Arm Pond and Three Island Pond - but a state of emergency remains in place. In a statement, the town said as of noon Wednesday water tanks are filling more slowly than expected. Residents are asked to continue conserving water to help replenish the tanks until the state of emergency and conservation order is lifted.
"For the safety of the entire town, do not use water unless it is an emergency, even if water is coming through your taps," it said.
The first day of school is also delayed for students in Conception Bay South as the state of emergency in the town continues. Topsail Elementary, St. Edward's School, Holy Spirit High School, St. George's Elementary, Admiral's Academy, Villanova Junior High, Upper Gullies Elementary School, Frank Roberts Junior High School, and Queen Elizabeth Regional High are included in the closures.
September 2, 2025
STATE OF EMERGENCY IN CONCEPTION BAY SOUTH
Town of 30,000 expected to run out of water Tuesday Night
A break in the main water line feeding the town of Conception Bay South from Bay Bulls Big Pond has resulted in a State of Emergency in the town.
Town officials say it appears its water supply will be “completely depleted in short order, meaning there will be no water available for homes or businesses.”
All businesses were directed to close immediately to conserve water for emergency and fire department use only.
A mandatory water conservation order is also in effect, and all residents are being asked to use water only in an emergency.
A timeline on repairs is not known at this time and there’s no immediate word on whether the situation will affect the start of school in CBS tomorrow.
According to the CBC, City of St. John's communications officer Brandon Mullins said the Regional Water Authority and the city are working to address the issue alongside the Town of Conception Bay South.
"We need people to conserve as much as they can. It will make the water last longer. How much longer? I don't know, but it is expected that we're going to run out of water no matter what the conservation effort is," Bent said.
Bent said he's unsure if the issue will be fixed on Tuesday evening or even Wednesday. Even if the issue is solved, he said, refilling the tanks and recharging the water system will take considerable time.The St. John’s Regional Water Authority is overseeing repairs on the main transmission line. The town says it is working closely with regional partners and emergency services to address the situation, and updates will be provided as they become available.
Boil Water Adcisory once water is restored
It is likely there will be a "boil water" advisory or order for Conception Bay South after water is restored from a water main break or other disruption. The Town of Conception Bay South and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador would have to lift the advisory after testing shows the water is safe to drink again. Until the advisory is lifted, residents should boil water for one minute and let it cool for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and preparing food. A boil water advisory is issued because there is a risk of microbiological contamination of the water supply.
History of water woes
Conception Bay South (CBS) has a history of water woes, The town's aging water infrastructure, which uses plastic pipes prone to leaks and wells facing potential contamination, struggles to meet demand and recover from disruptions. This fragile system faces increasing strain from population growth, climate change, and unpredictable weather events, making residents vulnerable to significant water shortages and requiring emergency repairs. Some wells have experienced arsenic contamination, necessitated the use of arsenic tanks and creating further complexity for the system.
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