Efforts to get water to those affected by Husky spill continuing

Work is continuing on water pipelines to get clean water to communities which have been affected by the Husky oil spill.

The line from the Prince Albert treatment plant to the south Saskatchewan river could be ready sometime today.

Sam Farris with the Water Security Agency said that they are testing the new water supplies.

“Upstream near Anglin Lake as well as water from the south Saskatchewan river is being tested now, to be able to adapt the treatment process to handle that new raw water.”

Farris said a water line between the Battlefords and the city of North Battleford is being built.

“It’s expected that it’s going to take a few days, likely Tuesday before that is brought on line.”

The efforts to supply communities affected by the spill have been hurt after a power failure caused problems for communities that use the Sask Water supply line.

The Water Security Agency said the line supplies communities such as Humboldt, Wakaw, and St Louis.

The agency said the failure could limit the ability of these communities to share water with those who have been affected by the oil spill.

Efforts to clean up the spill are continuing.

Wes Kotyk with the Ministry of the Environment said that progress is being made on shore with preliminary clean up.

Preliminary clean up involves trying to collect as much oil as possible and removing plants which have been damaged.

Kotyk said six kilometers has been cleaned already and they have been cleaning about two kilometers per day.

Kotyk said that there are eleven booms in to stop the oil from spreading any further and there are 70 boats taking part in the cleanup effort.

The Ministry of the Environment said there have been 33 wildlife fatalities, but could not give specifics on the species killed.