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Cold weather freezes town Public Works Departments

The town of Luseland went over two days without water due to cold temperatures.
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The quick deep freeze brought problems to many of the communities in the Unity-Wilkie Press-Herald readership area.

LUSELAND – With the colder weather over the past week, many communities have had difficulties with water infrastructure.

Jan. 16, the Town of Luseland Public Works department was notified there water was flowing at the Luseland Salvador Homecoming Hall early in the morning. At first, employees thought the source of the flooding was at that location but soon discovered there was no break.

Town staff resorted to turning off the water supply to the town. Some businesses, various clubs and the school had to be closed for the duration.

The town did make non-potable water available for residents to use for flushing toilets. Water was taken directly from the reservoir and was made available at the old water treatment plant, which is heated.

At 5:30 p.m. Jan. 17, Luseland residents were notified that the break was located however would not be fixed until the next day. In the late afternoon the next day, the water was officially turned back on with a boil water advisory until Jan. 23.

In other communities, the Unity Public School also suffered a water line break within the school Jan. 15 and students were sent home early. The Unity Health Centre were also victims of busted pipes Jan. 18, while the Town of Kerrobert can’t clear any snow as the grader will not co-operate in the freezing temperatures.