NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. – A Saskatchewan city that had to close its water intakes after an oil spill will have to wait a little longer for a temporary water source to come online.
The city of North Battleford had hoped to start pumping water down a temporary line today, but a sample has tested positive for contamination.
The line was flushed again Sunday as a precaution and officials hope to have a clear test result back Tuesday.
North Battleford, along with the cities of Prince Albert and Melfort, closed their water intakes after a Husky Energy pipeline leak detected July 21 spilled up to 250,000 litres of oil mixed with a lighter hydrocarbon into the North Saskatchewan River near Maidstone.
Prince Albert is using temporary lines to pump in water from other sources and Melfort is drawing water from a reservoir.
The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency says it has no idea as to when the cities will be able to once again use water from the North Saskatchewan River.
About 62,000 people have been affected by the spill.