Fort Providence rations water
Hamlet forced to ship in water from Hay River after ice blocks intake at water treatment plant
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, April 30, 2015
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
A blockage at Fort Providence's water treatment plant caused the hamlet to start rationing water - and eventually trucking it in from Hay River - earlier this week.
"We were experiencing problems with low water levels this morning at our community reservoir," said Susan Christie, senior administrative officer with the hamlet, on Tuesday.
Often at this time of the year low water levels in the river cause problems for the hamlet. This time a buildup of ice at the intake point in the river is the source of the low flow level.
On Tuesday the hamlet issued an advisory notice for Fort Providence residents that water deliveries would be rationed as a result of the blockage.
On Wednesday, Christie said the hamlet would be sending two water trucks to Hay River and back at a cost of $600 each to alleviate the shortage. If needed, it would send more trucks that evening; and for as long as needed until the water treatment plant was able to operate at capacity again. Residents of Fort Providence are still being asked to conserve water despite the anticipated shipments from Hay River.
Christie said crews are currently working to fix the problem.
"We have equipment working on that right now, and we've put the community on a low water alert system and are asking for their cooperation in conserving their water supply," said Christie.
She said the low water level has no effect on water quality, which is good and tested daily.
During water rationing, tanks may be only partially filled up. Christie is advising residents to limit their water use as much as possible until the situation is resolved.
"We've run into problems before, so it's not new to us," said Christie.
