A mandatory ban on non-essential water use was issued Jan. 29 after an electrical issue caused pump failures at the E.L Smith Water Treatment plant in Edmonton.
The ban includes Edmonton, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Leduc, Beaumont and Fort Saskatchewan.
EPCOR expects the ban to last until the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 4, as repairs to the downed systems takes a long time to accomplish and test, according to Craig Bonneville, director of Engineering and Technical Services at EPCOR.
EPCOR has said that the water quality remains unchanged and safe to drink; it is quantity that is the issue.
“All residents are asked to conserve water by taking short showers instead of baths and turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving,” EPCOR said in a statement. “Please delay laundry and hand-wash small amounts of dinner dishes. Every drop helps.”
