By David Kirton

City of Saskatoon imposes mandatory water restrictions

Jun 16, 2011 | 7:12 AM

The City of Saskatoon has imposed mandatory water restrictions, prohibiting residents from using water outside their homes on their lawns and gardens.

The restrictions come on the heels of an equipment failure at the city's water treatment plant. The problem was fixed but the filters have gotten plugged with sand coming in from the South Saskatchewan River.

Water is still allowed inside the home but the City of Saskatoon is asking people to refrain from using dishwashers, doing laundry and taking long showers.

Earlier today Saskatoonians were under a voluntary cutback of water usage.

Obviously, it was not enough. The city had also cut down pressure in taps from 100 pounds per square inch (PSI) to 90.

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No word on how long these restrictions will be in place.

Peaking South Saskatchewan River impacting daily life

Meanwhile, the raging South Saskatchewan River will peak again impacting things from tap wate,r to commuter routes around Saskatoon.

Dan Palmer with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure says this is not something you see every year.

“It is unusual to have an extensive, long term closure, like we are seeing this year, due to the high water levels,” said Palmer.

Palmer says there is a fear the cable ferries could capsize.

When it comes to Saskatoon's drinking water, Reid Corbett with the City of Saskatoon’s water treatment branch, says a higher river means more sand and silt running into the water treatment plant.

“We are having a nasty issue because we are having to take clarifiers out of service more often, to do cleaning,” said Corbett.

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