Clean-up underway following water main break

Some businesses in the area of McPhillips Street and Church Ave are potentially facing weeks of repairs and even temporary closure after a water main break resulted in them being flooded.

The flooding and cold temperatures Sunday sealing shut the front door at Machray Animal Hospital.

There were no pets inside when water started to come inside, with the hospital alerted about the flood through their security company.

While the hospital is taking phone calls and answering emails, they are referring people to other clinics as they deal with the damage.

“We’re looking for at least three days of closure until things get dried out. We’re hoping to operate on some level after that for at least emergency care for food and prescription purchases,” said Melissa Ireland, Hospital Manager at Machray Animal Hospital.

Footage shot by a Panda Tea employee working at the time in the same plaza, who did not want to appear on camera, shows just how much water some of the businesses in the area had to deal with.

People dining at Sharmaji Sweet House and Restaurant experienced the flooding as well as they tried to eat.

Manager Manoj Sharma, says the damage the restaurant suffered is easily worth several thousand of dollars and plans on closing the business for at least 1-2 weeks.

“When we were walking on the floor, it was pretty much floating. The water got under some of the equipment and some of the refrigerators. There’s also some electrical damage,” explained Sharma.

“Pretty much 9-12 inches of water in the whole restaurant. From here to the kitchen, everywhere.”

But not every business plans on closing following the flood.

For Richard Doering who owns a pawn shop in the same plaza, he says after clearing the store of flooding by 5 p.m. Sunday they re-opened back again Monday serving their customers.

“I’m lucky we lifted everything off the floor. Everything in my store is safe, a little bit of inventory on the sales floor got damaged. All my pawn inventory, which is on shelves, is good,” said Doering.

It’s not only businesses in the area dealing with the aftermath of the water main break but also area residents.

Water in the area has been shut off but the city says a water tank is available for residents to use.

“All brown water throughout the taps,” said Glen Forbes, a nearby resident. “I saw all this water coming down the street. I thought it was exhaust but it was steam from the water evaporating. I said, ‘Oh that’s a lot oh water, so I went out for a ride.’ I wanted to see what was going on.”

The City of Winnipeg says they expect repairs to be completed Monday but could take longer because of the depth of the water main.

The city also says lane closures in the area are expected to end in two to three days, with crews needing to fix the roadway once repairs to the water main are complete.