By Matt Kelly

Water line between the Battlefords now operational

Aug 9, 2016 | 3:13 PM

After a clean bill of health, the water line between the town of Battleford and the city of North Battleford is operational.

As of Tuesday, Aug. 9, North Battleford is now able to access water from Battleford. Water Security Agency tests showed no contamination in the water and in the line.

Test results taken on Friday, Aug. 5 came back positive for one total coliform bacteria, a bacterial indicator of system cleanliness, in one of the eight samples. Another round of testing was completed on Sunday, Aug. 7 and those tests came back negative.

The water will be flowing into the F.E. Holliday Water Treatment Plant, replacing a third of what would be processed by the plant.

City spokesperson Susanne Abe said the operational water line alleviates some of the concern in the city.

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“There’s definitely a relief with that because now we have one third of the water we need, which is a third more than we had before,” she said.

Despite the new water coming in, most restrictions will still be in place for residents and businesses including car washes.

“The main purpose we’re using this water for is to have the capacity in case there is a fire, to have that water capacity and also to reduce the operating demand on Water Treatment Plant Number One,” Abe said.

However, Abe said city administrators decided to allow people to water vegetable gardens and other sources of food.

“We would consider that people can water any plant that contributes as a food source. Vegetable plants of course and fruit trees, anything that bears food,” she said.

In addition to the water line, ground water wells are being drilled which will be up and running by the end of August. Abe said once those wells are finished, it should bring some relief to water restrictions.

Matt Kelly is battlefordsNOW’s town municipal affairs and community reporter. He can be reached at mkelly@jpbg.ca.