P.A. resumes supplying water to rural residents cut off after oil spill

Prince Albert’s Rural Water Utility customers got some good news Friday.

City manager Jim Toye confirmed customers in the rural municipality of Prince Albert would have access to the city’s treated water supply, as of noon on Friday.

The city’s water crane at the Marquis Road Reservoir is also back up and running today. Toye said opening the crane was important, especially for rural residents looking to fill their fresh water tanks.

While the city’s crane is operating, its rural counterpart is not ready quite yet.

“The rural water authority crane will not be available,” Toye explained during a media brief. “They are still on an advisory order so the rural water crane will remain closed at this time.”

The city also turned taps back on for the Driftwood and Eastview mobile home parks.

Director of Public Works, Amjad Khan, said that in the last 24 hours his staff observed consumption levels consistent with the increase seen yesterday, when businesses were given the go ahead to resume using municipal water.

The City of Prince Albert consumes about 22,000 cubic litres of water per day, on average.

When asked about the state of emergency currently in place in the city, mayor Greg Dionne clarified the situation.

“It automatically expires on the weekend and we will, at this point, not be renewing it,” he said.

City council originally voted to declare the state of emergency on Monday, July 25, the same day the intake at the Prince Albert water treatment plant was shut off before oil in the North Saskatchewan River reached the city. It is set to expire automatically overnight on Sunday.

City officials are still asking residents to adhere to the even and odd outdoor use schedule which was put in place on Thursday. Residents at even numbered addresses can use water outdoors for activities such as lawn watering, and car washing, on even days in August. Residents at odd numbered addresses can use water outdoors on odd numbered days.

Officials from Braemar Adjustors will be available at the Travelodge on Second Ave. W., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help residents and businesses submit claims for reimbursement.