Lunenburg, Nova Scotia's mayor Jamie Myra reports that the town's water conservation efforts continue for a second day due to a dam breach at Dares Lake. The newly-constructed $1 million dam broke on Wednesday, causing the lake to overflow and forcing business closures, including those of High Liner Foods and several restaurants. As of Friday, two out of three pumps are operational but not at full capacity, with the goal of restoring full water supply within the next 24 hours. Myra estimates that further delays could result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue for the town during Labour Day weekend.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Water conservation efforts continued for a second day in Lunenburg, N.S., along with school and business closures, as crews worked to repair the Dares Lake dam.
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crews → continue → dam
The recently-constructed dam was breached Wednesday around 1 p.m. after a crack formed, sending water into the pump building.
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crack → construct → building
Since the dam is the Town of Lunenburg’s main water supply, many businesses, industries, and restaurants were forced to close in an effort to conserve water.
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businesses → force → water
Mayor Jamie Myra says the breach overflowed the lake and submerged the pump building.
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breach → say → building
That meant no water was being pumped into the town’s water treatment facility.
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water → mean → facility
“So eventually if that wasn’t rectified, we’d run out of water,” he said.
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he → rectify → water
Closures in the town range from cafes to daycares, and larger companies like High Liner Foods, which is headquartered in Lunenburg.
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which → range → Lunenburg
“If it doesn’t get back up and running within the next 12 to 24 hours, you’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars (in revenue) lost (in the town) over Labour Day weekend,” said Myra.
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Myra → get → weekend
For tourists who stopped by the popular waterfront community, it was a disappointment.
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it → stop → community
“We were going to go and have lunch at the Salt Shaker.
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We → go → Shaker
I feel bad for the businesses, they’re losing a lot of money,” said one visitor.
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visitor → feel → money
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Myra says the dam was installed within the last year and cost the town about $1 million.
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dam → get → million
“I never ever envisioned the new dam just collapsing or giving way.
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dam → envision → way
That, to me, is a shocker,” he said.
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he → say → me
As of Friday, two out of the three pumps in the building are working but not at 100 per cent, according to the mayor.
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two → work → mayor
“People have been listening to the directive, people have been using less water, and the two pumps that are out working are somewhat being able to catch up to the water capacity,” he said.
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he → listen → capacity
“So if things keep going in the right direction, we’re hoping sooner rather than later our water utility is back up to the standards it needs to be to start delivering safe drinking water to everybody.”
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it → keep → everybody
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fans → clash → talk
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Myra says the breach has now been secured and the focus remains on getting all three pumps fully operational.
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pumps → defend → commemoration
He applauds the town’s efforts to fix the problem and apologizes to the businesses and students at Bluenose Academy who haven’t been able to return to class for the new school year.
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who → applaud → year
“I really learned in the last 48 hours how close this community is.
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community → learn → hours
We haven’t had any pushback from residents (or) business owners.
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We → have → residents
We all want the same end result and we’re all working together to get there,” he said.
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he → want → result
Myra adds that anyone with property damage caused by the breach should contact his office.
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anyone → add → office
Property owner Connor Veinot is keeping a close eye on the water.
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Veinot → keep → water
What was once a small stream on his property has risen four feet and is threatening to flood his yard.
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was → rise → yard
“I didn’t think it would rise that fast,” he said.
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he → think → ?
Now that the breach has been secured, he’s hopeful the water will recede.
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water → secure → ?
However, heavy rain in the forecast has him fearing the worst.
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him → have → worst
Hopefully we don’t get a lot of downpour on top of it because it is a lot of force and I’m scared that it might take the bridge out behind me,” he said.
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he → get → me
As for the cause of the damage, Myra says it’s still unclear but he’s in touch with provincial officials as they work to figure that out.
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they → say → that
So it’ll be more than just us that are wondering what happened,” he said.
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he → wonder → us
