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By Shaun Penner

Rycroft residents nearing one week without water

Mar 5, 2019 | 12:22 PM

Residents of the Village of Rycroft are growing frustrated, now that they have been without water for nearly a full week.

The village remains under a local state of emergency, as well as a boil water advisory as the water supply has been shut down while crews dig to locate the break on 51 street near the village office.

“We are all frustrated because we all live there,” says Mayor Diahann Potrebenko. “Mostly everybody has been really understanding. We have been providing water to our residents (potable and non-potable), so we’ve had a lot of support and people do understand, especially with the cold weather, that gave us another task to deal with. People are being patient, but I don’t think that patience is going to last much longer.”

On Monday, crews were able to dig through seven feet of frost, with more digging happening today. The village is hoping the break will be fixed before end of day today, but Potrebenko notes that the water will not be potable right away.

She says that lab testing will need to be done, which would take 24-48 hours. Once that is complete, the line will be tested for 24 more hours to ensure that the water is drinkable.

“My guess, I hope would to say… possibly Saturday. Sunday the latest,” said Potrebenko.

Residents can continue to receive up to four litres of bottled water per day. A non-potable water station, as well as bottled water, will be available at Yanishewski’s shop (4911 46 Ave.) from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday.

CO-OP also has bottled water for sale during business hours, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

The arena in Spirit River will continue to offer showers and washrooms to Rycroft residents. Tuesday’s hours will be from 3-7 p.m.

The village also reminds residents to keep all taps closed until the line is fixed.

by Shaun Penner