Leak continues to frustrate
City doesn't know cost or amount of treated water flowing into Frame Lake for third year
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, April 3, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The source of a significant water leak in the Borden Drive area that is flowing underground and causing overflow on Frame Lake continues to be a thorn in the side of the city's public works department.
Caution tape surrounds an area where city crews have removed ice along the edge of Frame Lake at the overpass near the Co-op grocery store. Water from an unknown leak is flowing into the area, causing an overflow problem, which has persisted for years. - Erin Steele/NNSL photo |
It's the third year the mysterious leak of treated water has frustrated city workers.
City crews repaired 14 broken pipes in the Wal-Mart area last summer and hoped one of them would be the source, said Chris Greencorn, director of public works and engineering.
He wasn't able to provide a dollar figure for how much the loss of the treated water is costing the city or estimate how much water is being lost.
While the flow of water subsided, it hasn't stopped.
Coun. Cory Vanthuyne said pinpointing a leak somewhere in the Borden Drive area is tough.
"It's been a challenge. We've been trying to find that leak for the last few years now," he said. "It's problematic and we're trying to do the best we can."
The problem is the department has limited time and money to deal with the issue.
"Hopefully we'll get to the bottom of it," Greencorn said Wednesday. "We're throwing what we can at it."
The city has leak detection crews out and about every day, but he said resources are focused on reconnecting residents who have lost their water supply.
When they have time, they return to the area trying to locate the source of the Frame Lake leak.
The water flowing into the lake is chlorinated, so Greencorn said it's coming from a city water pipe.
"It's a priority, absolutely, because we're wasting water," he said.
Last year he said the city spent about $15,000 to maintain the area in man hours.
The city has been removing ice from the area throughout the winter, mainly to prevent it from flooding.
The water flowing into the lake means the ice in the area is thin and in years past people have fallen through.
There have been no reports of that this year, Greencorn said.
The area is marked off and residents are being warning to avoid the spot as temperatures increase.
"Please proceed with caution, stay away from the area," Greencorn said Wednesday.
Treated water costs onsumers $3.50 per cubic metre.
