Timeline: Anatomy of an oil spill

North Battleford city crews filled reservoirs and the water tower in the event the F.E. Holliday Water Treatment Plant was shut down. The city was confident its water needs could be served entirely using ground water.

Friday, July 22:

The plan by Husky Energy to capture and contain the oil slick at Paynton was compromised because of a one-metre rise in river levels which pushed debris into the booms.

North Battleford shut down its F.E. Holliday Water Treatment Plant because of the expected oil slick.

The city implemented “winter water use” asking residents not to water lawns, wash cars, or hose down driveways. North Battleford also closed its laundromats and car washes.

Residents in Prince Albert were encouraged to stock up on water. Both the Kinsmen Water Park and spray parks were closed over the weekend.

Saturday, July 23:

Prince Albert residents were asked not to use water for non-essential activities including watering lawns or gardens, or washing cars.

The city said it had a 48-hour potable water source. If required, a retention pond could provide the city with water until the end of the coming week.

Ministry of Environment officials said Prince Albert had enough water for approximately seven days.

Sunday, July 24:

The city of P.A. shut off the water supply to the rural water utility leaving residents without water.

P.A. made plans to construct a temporary, overland pipeline to pump water from the South Saskatchewan River, instead of the North.

The city took protective measures to prevent contamination of the water treatment plant and confirms it will seek compensation for the spill.

P.A. asked laundromats and carwashes to temporarily close.

The Ministry of Environment said roughly 100 cubic metres, or nearly half, of the blended crude had been skimmed from the water and cleaned-up on land at the point of the pipeline leak.

The ministry also said, as of 7:30 a.m., the front edge of the sheen was approximately 15 km downstream from Maymont.

Three birds were affected by the oil spill.

Monday, July 25:

City of Prince Albert declared a state of emergency to begin the following day until the first day of August.

The intake at the city’s water treatment centre from the North Saskatchewan River was shut off.

The general manager of the Prince Albert Rural Water Utility, Ken Danger, said residents did not receive 24-hour written notice from the city before their water was shut off.

City Manager Jim Toye said Monday morning the city had 48 hours worth of water in its reservoir. The temporary, overland pipeline was due to be complete Wednesday, “mid-morning.”

P.A. city council voted to enact a bylaw to enforce water restrictions on residents and business across the city.

During a city of P.A. press conference at 4 p.m., Toye updated the pipeline’s progress and said it would be complete by Wednesday, “mid-afternoon.”

Toye said the city has a 48-hour potable water supply, clarifying Mayor Greg Dionne’s earlier statement the city had instead a 24-hour supply.

Toye also said the city was treating water in a retention pond. It wouldn’t be known until later if this water would be safe to consume. If viable, the storm pond could provide P.A. with water for another four or five days.

Husky said at least 70 cubic metres of oil mixed with soil was collected at the site of the leak, and approximately 118 cubic metres of oil mixed with water was skimmed from the river.

The city of North Battleford looked into building a pipeline to connect its river water treatment plant to the Battle River.

The federal Ministry of Environment and Climate Change said an investigation was underway to determine which laws, if any, may have been violated.

Six animals including four birds, one fish and one frog, were reported dead.

Tuesday, July 26:

Reporters learned the “release” of blended crude could have started 14 hours earlier than Husky originally said.

The R.M. of Prince Albert declared a state of emergency.

The city of Prince Albert general manager Jim Toye said the overland pipeline will be delayed until Friday.

Toye also said water from the city’s storm retention pond was cleared for use leaving the city with roughly six days of water available.

Visits at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary were temporarily suspended.

Melfort issued a drinking water advisory at midnight to its residents and surrounding communities.

Husky Energy said the company set up a toll-free phone line for any business, individual, or community with a financial claim as a result of the spill.

Eight animals including four birds, three fish, and one frog were confirmed dead.

Wednesday, July 27:

The City of Prince Albert found another temporary water solution — drawing from the Spruce River System.

An oil spill cleanup expert paid for by Husky, and an energy official also with the company were said to arrive in P.A. shortly afterwards.

Dionne said Premier Brad Wall will not be coming to Prince Albert tomorrow for a scheduled visit.

In addition to connecting North Battleford’s F.E. Holliday Water Treatment Plant to the Battle River, the city explored piping water from the town of Battleford, increasing the number of wells supplying Treatment Plant Number One and a technology-based pre-treatment system.

North Battleford mayor Ian Hamilton said experts were looking at whether oil was settling into the ground.

Premier Brad Wall offered to tour affected areas, specifically North Battleford and Prince Albert, on Thursday but the cities’ mayors said they’d rather Wall delay his visit.

Thursday, July 28:

The Water Security Agency said the Town of Battleford’s treatment plant will provide North Battleford with water within the next few days.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

by paNOW Staff

Timeline: Anatomy of an oil spill

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