The Town of Antigonish has restored water service after a major break in the transmission main that feeds its municipal water system.

The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, when a contractor working in the Gravel Pit Road area accidentally damaged the main line that carries water from the James River Dam to the town’s water treatment plant. The damage caused water flow to stop, forcing the plant to shut down.

Town staff quickly responded, with the Public Works team assessing the damage and beginning repairs. The water flow from the dam was turned off to allow work to proceed safely. Early estimates suggested repairs could take 24 to 48 hours, but crews had the plant back online by about 10 p.m.

During the outage, the town relied on water stored in its towers, which normally hold about two days of supply. While the towers performed as expected, the reduced levels mean some residents may notice lower water pressure until they are refilled.

The town says its priority remains ensuring a safe and reliable water supply as the community deals with both the repair work and an extended dry spell.