Shelburne’s downtown core again flooded after water main breaks

Written By Paula Brown

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Shelburne residents and commuters were asked to avoid travelling through the downtown core on Monday following multiple water main breaks that caused flooding in the streets. 

The Town of Shelburne announced that Main St., Owen Sound St., and William St. had been affected by the water main breaks and advised avoiding the area.  The pressure from the water main breaks cause sections of Main Street to rise. 

In April, the Town of Shelburne experienced similar breaks along Main St, which at the time had been attributed to over pressurizing from filling the new water town. 

The Shelburne Free Press reached out to the Town of Shelburne multiples times for comment on the possible cause of the water main break, but did not hear a response as of press time.

As a result of the water main breaks, the Town of Shelburne issued a boil water advisory on Monday (Nov. 20) for a small section of the downtown. 

“You must bring the water to a rolling boil for at least one minute (60 seconds) before drinking it,” the notice advised. “Let the water cool down before using or drinking. Boiling the water will kill the harmful microorganisms in the water.” 

The Town also recommended that those affected alternate their source of safe water, such as bottled water for drinking, making ice or mixed drinks, preparing baby food or infant formula, preparing food and brushing their teeth. 

Those in the catchment area were also warned to wash their hands with bottled or boiled water and to avoid bathing toddlers and young children in non-boiled water as they are likely to ingest the water.