Residents of the Cookshire sector in Cookshire-Eaton will have to ration their water consumption until December 9, in addition to having to boil it as a preventive measure. These measures are necessary because of the work to seal the concrete drinking water reservoir for this sector.
The work, said René Lavigne, director of public works, has nothing to do with the problematic odour that has affected users in the area for several months. The purpose of the work in progress to repair a leak identified at least a year ago. The leak, he explained, is major; it is estimated at 46% of the daily production. The time needed to examine the scope of the work, to launch a call for tenders to find a firm, and to obtain the products, explains the delay, said the director of public works.
Unlike certain drinking water reservoirs which are compartmentalized on the inside, Cookshire’s has one single compartment. In order to proceed with the work, it was necessary to build five temporary tanks nearby to meet the demand. The one under repair has an approximate capacity of one million litres while the five tanks hold some 400,000 litres, hence the instructions for consumers to limit water use to the strictly necessary. Mr. Lavigne noted that the advisory to boil the water for at least one minute is for preventive purposes. “Our analyses are good, but we want to be certain, since the tanks are temporary and the water travels in hoses above ground to be patched into the line that goes down to the village, and even the recommendation of the Ministry of Environment as well as Public Health is to issue a preventive boil water advisory.”
In addition, a cistern of drinking water located at the Cookshire fire station has been made available to citizens. They will be able to fill containers from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the duration of the work. The two primary schools in the area will be supplied with jugs of water for students and staff.
The Work
Officials of the company responsible for the work have emptied the reservoir and transferred the water to temporary containers. Work was due to start on Monday and will be carried out from inside the tank. Among other things, we will wash and seal the cracks and joints between the floor and the walls. The walls will be coated with a liquid membrane. Then we will proceed to clean and fill the reservoir. Bacteriological tests will follow. The operation is expected to be completed by December 9, Lavigne said. The cost of the work is expected to be approximately $350,000, but will be fully covered under the TECQ program. The director of public works mentioned that the installation of a second reservoir will be considered “as a second step. We will take it step by step.”
On the other hand, Mr. Lavigne added that every measure will be taken to adequately respond to possible disasters such as a fire. Businesses and commerces have been notified, he said.
Odour
Mr. Lavigne mentioned hearing from citizens that the odour of the drinking water coming out of the tap was diminishing. According to the experts, he said, cooling temperatures would reduce the odour to normal levels. That said, conscious that this phenomenon will not solve the problem, the director of public works confirmed that efforts to find a solution continue. “We are currently looking for other sources of water to add to our supply. We are working in parallel on solutions with other specialist firms.” Some interveners believe that the problem could come from the recharging pond which maintains pressure on the water table, explained Lavigne. “We have already done exploratory drilling, we are looking for water. The world thinks that we are sitting on our laurels. We are not at all! The drilling we have done is positive except that you have to follow the chain of procedures. We have two boreholes done, we have done a first pumping by stages, we are waiting for the results of the 72-hour pumping.” The process will continue with the collaboration of the Ministry of the Environment until the system is put into service, added Lavigne.