Local State of Emergency declared, City passes Emergency Water Conservation Bylaw

Press Release

July 25, 2016

Prince Albert, SK.- As of 6:15 a.m. today, the water intake for the Water Treatment Plant for the City of Prince Albert was shut off to the North Saskatchewan River to ensure the safety of residents. The oil plume traveling down the North Saskatchewan River has been visually detected upstream and has approached the district of Prince Albert.

A Special City Council Meeting was held this afternoon wherein a local State Of Emergency was declared. City Council also passed an Emergency Water Conservation Bylaw No. 28 giving city officials the authority to issue $1,400 fines (base fine of $1,000 plus an additional $400 surcharge) to businesses and residents using potable water unnecessarily.

As part of Conservation Measures the following has been declared effective immediately:

• Closure of Car Washes
• Closure of Laundromats
• Closure of the City’s Municipal Water Crane
• Prohibition on all outdoor irrigation, except for areas using reclaimed water.
• Washing of sidewalks, driveways, tennis courts, patios and other paved areas.
• Outdoor use of water-based play apparatus.
• Restaurants and other food service establishments serving municipal potable water to customers, except upon request.
• Operation of outdoors misting systems used to cool areas.
• Filling of swimming pools, hot tubs, fountain spas, or other outdoor water features.
• Washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers and other vehicles.
• Watering of lawns and gardens.

Other businesses are being asked to do their part to conserve water any way possible. It is critical over the next couple of days until the water pipeline is fully onboard that both residents and businesses do their part to conserve water and only use water for essential use.

Fines will be implemented for any business or resident that is found to be breaking the bylaw. Residents are encouraged to call Bylaw Services at (306) 953-4222 if you see residents or commercial businesses not following the bylaw.

A pipeline is under construction to provide an alternative source of water from the South Saskatchewan River. The pipeline will draw water 30 kilometres south-east of the City downstream of Muskoday First Nation.

Any residents that have questions can call our Special General Inquiry Centre that has been setup. Residents can call (306) 953-4305 or email connectwithus@citypa.com to have their questions answered. We will also be providing regular updates on our website – www.citypa.ca and on our Facebook and Twitter social media accounts.

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For more media inquiries please contact:

Alanna Adamko
Communications Manager
Phone: (306) 953-4367
aadamko@citypa.ca

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