UPDATE: City lifts water-usage notice; thanks residents
By Kyra Hoggan
City utilities manager Jesse Reel says three of four pumps are now up and running and the reservoirs at 75-per-cent capacity after a power outage this morning damaged pumphouse electrical systems, and residents are now able to go back to normal water consumption.
“I just want to say thanks to the residents of Castlegar – they obviously reduced their water consumption and helped us deal with this problem, rather than leaving us with an empty reservoir situation.
“I really appreciate the support and cooperation.”
Previous coverage:
Difficulties with the pumping station reservoirs servicing Castlegar’s Upper Bench look to be more complicated than originally believed, according to city utilities manager Jesse Reel.
“Fortis got the power restored at around 10 a.m., but the outage caused some damage to the electrical components in the pumphouse,” Reel said. “We’re strugging to get the pumps working, and reservoir levels are really low.
“We still need residents to restrict their water use to essential needs only until further notice – probably around 6 p.m.,” he said, adding the more the public helps out, the faster the reservoirs will be filled and the sooner the problem can be resolved.
“Again, we apologize for any inconvenience, and thank residents for their patience, understanding and assistance,” Reel said.
Previous coverage:
Residents of Castlegar’s Upper Bench (Kinnaird, Highland Drive, Grovesner, and Blueberry Areas) are being asked to use water only for essential services (drinking, food preparation, toilet flushing) while refraining from watering lawns, bathing, doing laundry, etc.
“Fortis has an unplanned power outage, which leave us unable to pump water to Upper Bench,” explained city utilities manager Jesse Reel, adding Fortis has already begun repairs and power should be restored by roughly 12 p.m. today, at which point residents can go back to their customary water-use habits.
“The city apologizes for any inconvenience, and thanks residents for their patience, understanding and assistance,” Reel said.
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