(Submitted/northern village Île-à-la-Crosse)

By Nicole Reis

PRECAUTIONARY BOIL-WATER ADVISORY LIFTED

Precautionary boil-water advisory issued in village of Île-à-la-Crosse lifted today

Apr 23, 2020 | 4:12 PM

A precautionary drinking water advisory issued in the northern village Île-à-la-Crosse on April 8 was lifted on Thursday, more than two weeks after issuing the safety measure.

Mayor Duane Favel told meadowlakeNOW the water main causeway running across town was damaged by what the mayor believes to be a D6 CAT bulldozer.

According to Favel, a city worker sunk his bulldozer in a thawed muskeg that sunk and damaged waterlines nearly eight feet underground. The worker who accidentally sunk his bulldozer does regular maintenance on the waterlines.

“That’s who we use to fix out waterlines to begin with so we didn’t have an issue,” Favel said. “Once we got the CAT out, he proceeded to fix our lines for us–which he did in a very timely manner.”

The bulldozer sunk at approximately 4 p.m. in the afternoon on Friday April 3 and the water main break was fixed by 9 p.m. that evening.

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With the water main break, village officials said a precautionary boil-water advisory was issued to ensure drinking water is potable.

“Now we’re experiencing a surge of COVID-19 in our area, it’s important for us to maintain our water treatment plants and the essential services we have in our community,” the mayor said. “It’s been a fairly quick thaw, so lots of water in our communities and lots of work to be done so we still have to pay attention to the important responsibilities we have as municipalities.”

Water samples were sent for testing in Regina which typically takes a maximum of two weeks turn-around time for results to come back to the community.

During a global pandemic, Favel said a lack of potable water is concerning for the community who is trying to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“It’s critical we have water that is potable, water that we can drink and clean our hands, home and businesses with. It’s critical to the health and the prevention of passing the virus to others,” he said. “It’s concerning but boil water advisory doesn’t necessarily mean there is something wrong with the water,’

In a statement issued by Morgan Gutek with the Water Security Agency, the advisory has been rescinded as of today as the water main was repaired and the system has been re-pressurized.

“Chlorine and turbidity levels at the water treatment plant and throughout the distribution system are stable and within regulatory limits,” the statement read. “Disinfection has been verified by two consecutive sets of samples testing negative for bacteriological growth in the final treated water being supplied.”

If a positive sample is realized upon immediate return to regular sampling submission, the Water Security Agency may, if believed necessary, consider the issuance of a new Precautionary Drinking Water Advisory.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: nicolereis7722