River intakes able to open; N.B. to wait and use filtration system
The North Saskatchewan River water intakes are able to be opened again after the July Husky Oil Spill, but the city of North Battleford is going to wait.
As of Friday, Sept. 16, the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA) confirmed the water quality of the river is safe for treatment and the water intake structures in North Battleford, Melfort and Prince Albert are able to be opened again. However North Battleford has decided not to open up the river water intakes right away and continue to use the current supplies.
City Communication Coordinator Susanne Abe said the city will be installing the pre-treatment sand filtration system previously discussed as part of alternate water plans.
“We just want to take additional precautionary measures and we are implementing the filtration system that we talked about that will draw water through the filtration system into the plant,” she said.