Work underway at the site of the water main break on River Street in Kamloops on May 14, 2026. (Image Credit: Kent Simmonds/CFJC Today)

By Victor Kaisar

Water Woes

Essential water restored to east Kamloops neighbourhoods as repairs near completion

May 14, 2026 | 8:34 PM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops says repairs on a water main that feeds six neighbourhoods are nearing completion, and people can resume using water for essential purposes, though restrictions on uses remain in place.

In an update at 6:30 p.m. Thursday (May 14), the city said people in Dallas, Valleyview and Campbell Creek are back on a boil water advisory, while those in Rose Hill, Juniper Ridge and Barnhartvale are on a do not consume order.

“With repairs nearing completion for the critical water main, the City has restored water service for essential use only to all affected areas,” the city’s statement said. “Residents must continue to follow the specific directions included in their property alerts.”

Those alerts can be found on Voyent Alert and the city’s website. Another expected is expected to be released sometime this evening once repairs are completed.

Early Thursday, the city asked residents and businesses east of Rose Hill Road to temporarily stop all water use between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. It was to give crews a window to complete “more robust” repairs, after earlier efforts were unsuccessful Tuesday, forcing the city to shift to Plan B.

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This evening’s update follows one from Joe Luision, the city’s assistant civic operations director, who at 3:45 p.m. Thursday said crews were making good progress on critical repairs to a broken water main along River Street.

“It’s based on pressure levels that we’re able to maintain and what the surroundings of the community are,” Luison said, when asked about the reason for the two different advisories. “If they have industrial or agricultural uses, there might be possibility of different contaminants than just microorganisms.”

“That is why there are six different areas because we have different pressure zones.”

The city notes the water will now go through “comprehensive safety testing and stages of usability” before people are given the all clear to drink water directly from their taps. It’s a process that could take between five and 14 days to complete.

“Thank you to residents for stopping water use during the day today,” the city said. “Our ability to return to essential water use is a direct result of these efforts.”

The city has also committed to reviewing its communications plans following criticism that not everyone affected by the large-scale water main break got the message in time.

by Victor Kaisar

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Essential water restored to east Kamloops neighbourhoods as repairs near completion

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