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Ongoing Response at Dares Lake Dam

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Published: Thursday, 03 September 2026 16:03

Emergency response to a breach at the Dares Lake dam, which supplies drinking water to the Town of Lunenburg, is still underway and is expected to continue for the rest of the day and again tomorrow.

Crews and heavy equipment are working on site and have contained and stabilized the breach by strengthening the dam. Berms and trenches diverted water from the pumphouse, and crews gained access to the affected infrastructure to perform electrical and mechanical assessments, which are ongoing. Two of the three pumps are functioning but not at full capacity. The third pump is not operational, and staff are working towards replacing it as soon as possible.

Water conservation efforts are slowly producing results with low reservoir levels improving slightly. However, conservation measures will remain in place for now until levels are more sustainable. Currently, residents and businesses in the Town of Lunenburg are required to limit usage to essential purposes only, such as drinking, cooking, and sanitation. The Town of Lunenburg has released a water conservation directive on their website: townoflunenburg.ca. Levels will be reassessed this evening and tomorrow.Residents are reminded to stay away from the Dares Lake area and allow emergency personnel, contractors, and heavy equipment operators to work safely.

Local fire services will transition to rural firefighting operations if required. Water tankers and mutual aid resources are available and will be utilized as needed.There is currently no immediate risk to public safety. Should municipal water service be temporarily disrupted, community support measures will be activated to assist customers connected to the Town of Lunenburg municipal water system. Updates will be provided as information becomes available. 

Residents are encouraged to monitor official communication channels for updates and information as the situation evolves:

• Lunenburg County REMO Facebook
• Municipal websites and social media channel
• The REMO public information line at 902-530-7366 (REMO) for recorded updates when available