Accidental damage to a service line this week has left 21 households in Ancaster unable to drink their own water for two days, according to the city.
A contractor was working on a private sewer lateral Tuesday when excavating equipment damaged the water line that services houses on Woodworth Drive East, the city said in a Thursday media release.
It caused a temporary loss of pressure, which had the potential to affect the water quality. The city says the water main was shut down right away.
Hamilton Water staff also provided the homes with drinking water advisories to the homes that day, according to the city.
The affected homes were told not to put the water into their mouths, on their food or their dishes.
They can still shower, bathe, wash their hands, flush toilets and do laundry with the water, states the advisory.
In the meantime, Hamilton Water is providing them with potable water.
“We recognize the concern and inconvenience residents are experiencing and appreciate their patience, as we work to get safe drinking water restored to their neighborhood,” read a statement from Hamilton Water director Nick Winters.
By 11 p.m., on Tuesday, the city says water was restored for non-potable use that day and Hamilton Water is working to complete a restoration plan to end the advisory.
“Affected residents will be updated with a hand-delivered letter as soon as a timeline for restoration has been established,” reads the city’s media release.
CBC Hamilton has contacted the city for more details.