PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – All water restrictions have been lifted in a city that was forced to close its water intakes after an oil spill on the North Saskatchewan River.
The city of Prince Albert says it’s confident there is ample supply from two temporary water pipelines, so residents can start watering lawns, washing vehicles and filling pools.
People were told to conserve water after a Husky Energy pipeline leak last month spilled up to 250,000 litres of oil mixed with a lighter hydrocarbon into the river near Maidstone, Sask.
Conservation measures were lifted earlier this month for businesses, such as laundromats and car washes, which weren’t allowed to use any water for a couple of weeks after the spill.
Prince Albert has received a $5-million payment from Husky to cover some of the direct costs and indirect losses related to the spill.
The city said last week that it had invoiced Husky around $2.5 million to date and is expecting more than $2 million a month in costs to maintain the temporary water lines, including a 30-kilometre-long line to the South Saskatchewan River.