Deh Gah Got'ie/Fort Providence - A pump failure at the water treatment plant in Fort Providence led to several days of rationed water deliveries for residents.

On Sept. 17 a pump on the backwash system - part of the filtering process - started to slow down and cause problems, said Susan Christie, the acting senior administrative officer for the hamlet. The pump wasn't keeping up to the hamlet's demand for water.

A pump failure at the water treatment plant in Fort Providence led to a weekend of rationed water supplies. - photo courtesy of Christopher Carson

On Wednesday morning staff from the hamlet as well as Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) and the Department of Public Works and Services made temporary repairs so a manual backwash could be performed, Christie said. A replacement pump was also ordered.

"They worked to rectify our problem," she said.

Due to the decreased water output from the treatment plant, the hamlet fell behind on the regular water deliveries, said Christie. Arrangements were made to get water from Hay River. Water trucks from the hamlet as well as additional trucks from a Hay River contractor drove back and forth to deliver water.

Residents who receive trucked water were put on a rationed supply starting Sept. 21. Instead of a full tank, households were receiving closer to half a tank, said Christie. Essential services including the health clinic, RCMP and senior's home received priority treatment.

Deh Gah school closed on Friday to conserve the water that the school had left, said principal Lois Philipp.

Overall, residents responded with understanding to the situation, said Christie.

"Everyone took it well," she said.

The hamlet didn't receive any complaints but there were some inquires, she said. Daily updates on the situation were provided on the radio and through pamphlets posted on community bulletin boards.

People who phoned to report they were very low or out of water were put on a list to receive more.

"We tried to accommodate everyone," Christie said.

The new pump was installed and in use by Friday. Deliveries continued to be rationed over the weekend and Monday to ensure that all residents still had at least some water, said Christie.

The regular schedule and full water delivery amounts were expected to resume on Sept. 25.

The situation was never considered a state of emergency because the hamlet had a plan in effect, said Christie. A well-maintained inventory of parts at the treatment plant helped rectify the situation quickly although the pump took longer to arrive than expected, she said.

To supplement their emergency plans the hamlet is looking at purchasing a submersible pump that could be used for the backwash system, said Christie.