Water levels ‘in great shape’ as feeder main repairs continue, city says

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The City of Fort St. John says water reservoir levels remain in good shape as crews move into the second day of emergency feeder water main repairs.

The city announced on February 2nd that a leak in the feeder water main, which supplies raw water from city wells near the Peace River to the water treatment facility, required immediate repairs.

As a result, residents were asked to conserve as much water as possible once repairs began on Thursday, February 5th.

In an update posted to Facebook on Friday, February 6th, the city thanked residents and businesses for their conservation efforts, saying reservoir levels are “in great shape heading into day two of this feeder main repair.”

“Please keep it up as we head into the weekend,” the city wrote, adding it will notify the public as soon as the water supply has been fully restored.

The city also confirmed it remains hopeful repairs can be completed within the originally estimated 48-hour timeframe, noting in a reply to a comment on the post that residents will be informed if that timeline changes.

If the work is not completed within that timeframe, the city has said several contingency plans are in place, including the potential use of overland pumping from the Peace River wells.

Traffic impacts continue near the repair site, with a four-way stop still in place at the Swanson Lumber Road (259th Road) intersection. Traffic control staff will be on-site 24 hours a day while work is underway.

Residents are still being asked to conserve water until repairs are complete.

The city has encouraged people to delay non-essential water use such as laundry and dishwashing, take shorter showers, avoid refilling hot tubs and reduce overall household and commercial water consumption whenever possible.

City of Fort St. John communications manager Ryan Harvey previously told Energeticcity.ca the leak was discovered in December.

“We’ve been monitoring it since then, and getting ready with parts and approvals and everything else that we need,” Harvey said.

The feeder water main was initially installed in 1996.