Pelican Narrows boil water advisory nearing end

Pelican Narrows faces a boil water advisory due to a raw water intake failure, with repairs underway and normalcy expected soon

Boil Water Advisory in Pelican Narrows Expected to Lift Soon

Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation’s emergency response manager states that the boil water advisory for Pelican Narrows is likely to be lifted within the next day or so.

The First Nation, which has over 4,000 members, has been sourcing water from nearby communities for the past few days. On Friday, Duane Hiebert confirmed that the reservoir in the water tank is nearly full.

The issue began with a critical failure in the community’s raw water intake system on Sunday night.

Details of the Water Intake Issue

According to a news release from PBCN, the problem involves a reduction in the intake of water into the treatment system. This created an urgent need to conserve water. If the lines run low or dry, the system could shut down and freeze, causing significant damage.

Hiebert noted that many community members are unable to pick up water. “So volunteers and community members took it upon themselves to deliver water door to door for drinking and cooking,” he said.

At one point, there was concern that the water pump would freeze and dry out. Hiebert emphasized that this has not occurred, and there will be no need for evacuations.

Inspection of Water Infrastructure

Hiebert expects the boil water advisory to be lifted soon. Ryan King, a technician with AECOM, mentioned that divers are scheduled to inspect the infrastructure in the lake on Saturday.

The lake intake system has been in place since 1981. “It’s been a reliable, faithful water source for the community, until Sunday,” King said.

He described the infrastructure as a 200-millilitre line that sits in up to 20 feet of water. A screen at the end of the line prevents fish and debris from entering.

The divers plan to locate the screen, visually inspect it, and take video to check for blockages or damage. If no obvious problems are found, they will inspect the 500-foot pipe at the bottom of the lake.

“It’s unusual for a structure to have sudden damage like this,” King said.

He added that replacing the line or the screen would be challenging. However, the community is in good shape and should return to normalcy next week.