By Spencer Sterritt

Communication error to blame for rural P.A. shut off: rural general manager

Jul 25, 2016 | 3:42 PM

A communication breakdown has left rural residents of Prince Albert suddenly without water.

Ken Danger, general manager of the Prince Albert Rural Water Utility, said they were supposed to receive a 24-hour written notice from the city if their water was to be shut off. However, he said staff members “didn’t receive the notice we should have received,” before the supply was cut off.

Numerous rural residents have taken to social media to express their displeasure.

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“I’ve had mothers phoning that are crying because they can’t flush a toilet and their kids can’t wash their hands and they can’t shower,” Danger said. “I really feel for them, but unfortunately our ability to provide them something at the moment just doesn’t exist.”

Danger said Shellbrook would be the best place for rural residents to get water.

“It appears they have the best facility at the moment,” he said.

Water is also available in St. Louis.

“We’re looking at any options we can possibly come up with,” Danger said. “We know that our people are in dire straits and that we have to do something quickly.”

On July 21, roughly 200,000 to 250,000 litres of heavy oil mixed with diluent escaped from a Husky Energy pipeline east of Lloydminster near the Highway 21 bridge.

-with files from Nigel Maxwell.

ssterritt@panow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit