TORONTO -- After originally being told their water would be off for at least seven weeks, residents of a massive downtown condominium complex are now being informed that their water will be restored by midnight.
In an email sent to tenants of the Aura building early Saturday morning, the building’s management confirmed that a broken water line shut down the water in the 80-storey building near Yonge and Gerrard streets at around 2 a.m.
“Low pressure levels from city side has caused booster pumps to cease,” the email, which was sent to residents at around 4 a.m., said. “These pumps are unique and specially designed for Aura.”
While the email noted that the repair process would take at least seven weeks, management did not provide a timeline for how long residents can expect to be without water.
The email, which was provided to CTV News Toronto by a building resident, said that the city has been notified of the incident and “will be held responsible for all damages caused.”
Earlier this week, the city said it will begin repairs on a watermain near Gerrard and Yonge Street that was damaged by a private contractor. A news release issued on Tuesday said that water service will not be interrupted, but that residents in the area may experience lower water pressure or a slight discolouration. The repairs were scheduled to begin on Jan. 22.
Brad Ross, a spokesperson with the city, confirmed on Saturday that water service is being maintained in the area and that the issues at Aura are unrelated to the city.
"We have done all necessary checks to ensure water pressure is adequate in the area and it is, and always was. Any problems with water service at Aura are related to the building, not the City of Toronto," Ross said.
A second update was sent around 10:30 a.m. further explaining that officials had to isolate all of the water pumps to prevent further damage to equipment.
Management said they are exploring the possibility of borrowing a pump from a construction site and that a team of technicians are working to find “alternative options to resolve the matter.”
“We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused and expect your understanding and co-operation regarding this matter,” the update said.
Residents were advised to seek other accommodations until the issue has been resolved, but some said that wasn’t a possibility.
“I’m from Vancouver, so I can’t go to my parent’s place,” Tony Yi said. “I bought a bunch of water. I’m hoping the water will come back soon. I can go to my friend’s place today, maybe take a shower there.”
By 4:30 p.m., management had sent a third update saying that they found “an alternative solution” and that water will be restored to the building by midnight. No further explanations were provided.
Residents were preparing for seven weeks of no water
Residents could be seen on Saturday returning from the grocery store with as much bottled water as they could carry.
“I had to buy water from Metro to flush my toilet,” Yi added. “There is no water at all. My tap just makes a hissing noise.”
Tanmay Sharma told CTV News Toronto that he will be calling his insurance company to see if they can cover his stay at a hotel or AirBnb.
“It’s very unacceptable,” he said.
Sharma said that he spoke with the building’s superintendent and that he was unable to provide residents with any more information.
“The management is very leisure about it,” he said. “It’s very unprofessional.”
The building’s management has not yet responded to CTV News Toronto’s request for comment.
On its website, Aura at College Park claims to be Canada’s tallest residential condominium.
