By Spencer Sterritt

Sudden water shutoff leaves family in a lurch

Jul 29, 2016 | 5:00 PM

With no warning, a rural Prince Albert family was stuck with very little water and serious concerns about how long their supplies would last.

Sarah Anderson’s family only had a 100 gallon tank to provide water to two adults and her two children — a seven-year-old and a four-year-old. Since water to the R.M. was very suddenly shut off with no warning, she said they didn’t get a chance to stock up.

“The well water is totally undrinkable but it’s enough to get to flush our toilets if I haul it in by bucket. So far we haven’t even had a really good shower or bath or anything yet,” she said

There’s been numerous roadblocks on Anderson’s way to more water. Cost is one of the biggest factors.

“If I get a tank that will sustain us, the smallest set we can get is 270 gallons, which runs around $300, and the pump is $800 and up,” she said. “A 270 gallon tank is the smallest that’ll fit in the back of a truck and that’ll last us just a few more days. If we want a sustainable system, there’s going to be quite a cost involved.”

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Husky Energy, responsible for the oil spill currently working its way down the North Saskatchewan River, has opened its claims line for those affected by the water shortage. Anderson said she was initially pleased to learn Husky Energy would cover her costs, but said her experience with the company was less than reassuring.

“Husky is telling me that I can submit my receipts but there’s absolutely no guarantee that they’ll give us any money to cost our costs. That’s a very different story,” she said.

As well, Anderson doesn’t know when she’ll receive water from the R.M. of P.A.

“There’s no definite time when they’re going to be in our area or when they’re going to be back,” she said.

Anderson added the remaining water in her tank should run out today, at which point they’ll switch to the rural system and be under a boil water advisory.

ssterritt@panow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit

-with files from Nigel Maxwell