Winnipeg family without any water for 12 days
Posted March 9, 2026 4:38 pm.
Last Updated March 9, 2026 8:19 pm.
A Winnipeg family is demanding accountability from the City of Winnipeg, after they claim they’ve been without water for 12 days following a sewer repair that was carried out by one of their contractors.
“It’s an absolutely unreasonable request to say you figure out who we hired for you and then you go yell at them because we don’t feel like doing our jobs,” said Vanessa Breckman, 12 days without water.
The Breckman family claims the issue first began in early January with repeated sewer backups. The family hired a private inspection company to look into the sewer issues, which they say later determined that a crushed section of pipe was found at the connection to the city riser under the sidewalk, which they were told falls under the city’s responsibility.
“The 311 operators were just not understanding what we were saying, like ‘We have a crushed sewer pipe. You need to come fix it’ and they’re like ‘Oh, we’re going to check the water level in the main sewer line,'” Breckman explained.
Breckman says the City of Winnipeg later arranged for contractors to excavate and repair the sewer line, with work being completed on February 25, but the following morning, their water line was completely frozen, and they were later told by the City that it may have been damaged during the repair work.
“They keep saying, ‘Oh yeah, this is urgent. You should contact the contractor,’ and we’re like, ‘We don’t know who the contractor is, and also, if a building crumbles, are you mad at the contractor or the guy who hired the shitty contractor?’ They were the ones who vetted them; they are the ones who have their contact information. They are the ones who can have the equipment to fix it.”
As of Monday, it’s been almost two weeks since their family had to use paper plates and cups, walk to the nearest Tim Hortons to use the bathroom, and boil 18-litre water jugs just to have a shower.
After almost two weeks, it appears temporary relief may be on the way. After contacting local media and MPs, they say a water truck is supposed to be sent their way.
“Staff from waste and water have spoken to the homeowner today and made an arrangement with them for water delivery. We have also been advised that work will continue this week to find a solution to the issues they have been experiencing,” said Councillor Janice Lukes in a statement.
Breckman, however, says, “Why do I have to stomp my feet and scream to get the service I pay for?”
