UPDATE: The reservoir has been refilled to 80 per cent capacity and water conservation restrictions have been lifted. Residents are still being asked to avoid wasteful unnecessary water consumption in order to maintain water levels.
UPDATE: The reservoir has been refilled to 80 per cent capacity and water conservation restrictions have been lifted. Residents are still being asked to avoid wasteful unnecessary water consumption in order to maintain water levels.
Hot, dry summer weather lowered the amount of water available from Lac La Biche's water treatment plant earlier this week, and water conservation measures were put in place as of the afternoon of July 8. The water shortage became critical on the evening of July 8, and the county warned that water might have been shut off if the water level could not be restored in time.
The county water treatment process has been adjusted since then and water use declined significantly during the restriction. The restriction was fully lifted the morning of July 10.
While the restriction was in place, residents who relied on bulk water were limited to 500 gallons per residential customer per 48 hour period, whether they hauled water themselves or used a bulk hauling service. Car washes and laundromats were temporarily closed, and residents were asked to refrain from watering plants or any unnecessary water usage.
Because the lake water contains more particles than usual and it is at a warmer temperature, the water treatment plant has been processing the water slower, according to a county press release. The main water reservoir dipped below 65 per cent full on July 8.
"According to Utilities staff, the reduction in water consumption was obvious," reads a July 10 Lac La Biche County press release. "Water consumption was reduced by a third during the last two days. Your help made it possible for staff to adjust the water treatment process and correct the problem."
While the water conservation restrictions were in place, some readers contacted the POST to note that Lac La Biche County employees were seen watering lawns and plants. The county clarified that this watering was being done with non-potable water drawn directly from the lake.
This story will be updated later today with more detailed information from Lac La Biche County on what happened during the water shortage.
