Many homes in Carp are relying on bottled water after a mechanical failure essentially shut off their water supply.
The City of Ottawa said Sunday night that around 1,800 users of the west Ottawa community’s communal well can’t drink their water after the system lost pressure and the plant flooded that afternoon.
"So there was no shortage of water, it's just that the piping system that we use to deliver the water to the distribution centre came apart," said Dixon Weir.
"That resulted in the station flooding, which caused damage (to the) instrumentation."
Residents said the loss of pressure was so severe that nothing's coming out of their taps.
"I don't have any water, how could I boil it?" said one well user. "I can't shower, I can't flush my toilet."
"It's like the ice storm," said Dave Campbell. "At least now we have some power."
Some water flow was restored Monday afternoon, but the city said not to use it until they can test it - even turning on a tap can put pressure on the system.
The return of full, drinkable water might take until Wednesday.
Water and hand sanitizer are being distributed to affected homes at the Carp Fairgrounds and have been since Sunday night. It will continue to be given out from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. as long as the water is out.
The Goulbourn Recreation Centre, Richmond Arena and Kanata Leisure Centre are all open for residents to shower.
The loss of pressure was at first believed to be unrelated to a brush fire in Carp that grew to ten acres before being contained, but officials said Monday that fire may have strained the well's pump.
Four firefighters stayed on the scene near the Hidden Lakes subdivision overnight to put out hot spots.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem
