What started as a water shortage in Fort Saskatchewan has led to Alberta Health Services issuing a pre-cautionary boil water advisory for the city on Saturday that, a day later, is still in effect.
Alberta Health Services has advised the City of Fort Saskatchewan that the boil water advisory will be re-assessed at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Residents were initially asked not to use tap water after pumps at the town reservoir cut off water supply to the city. City of Fort Saskatchewan spokeswoman Wendy Kinsella said the problem was reported at about 12:30 Saturday afternoon. Residents are believed to have been without water for about an hour and a half before two of the pumps were restored, bringing back limited water pressure in the community.
On the city's website, a message was posted saying "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience today. Water use has been restored but there is a drink bottled water only advisory in effect until further notice."
Then in a release sent out by the city, residents and businesses were advised to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before any consumption, including:
•drinking
•brushing teeth
•cleaning raw foods
•preparing infant formula or juices
•making ice, etc.
Grant Schaffer, Director of Public Works, said the problem was caused when control panels for the electrical pumps failed in the main water reservoir, and the backups either didn't kick in, or failed as well. Why the pumps and backup failed still remains a mystery, though.
Shaffer said water samples have been sent to a lab and the city is awaiting those results.
Until then, anyone with questions or concerns about the advisory is asked to call Alberta Health Link at 1-866-408-5465.
You can also follow the City of Fort Saskatchewan on Twitter for updates, and read the city's full release here.
With files from Postmedia News
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2012.