UPDATED: Temporary repairs underway, Kaslo residents still asked to conserve water following mudslide on creek to main intake
By Nelson Daily Staff
Chief Administrative Officer Rae Sawyer said temporary repairs are underway to the main reservoir but the public’s help is needed for the Village of Kaslo to get through this most recent dilemma.
“Extreme water conservation measures continue to apply in Kaslo,” Sawyer said in a written release.
“Every effort by the public to observe Level 4 Water Conservation restrictions remains critical,” Sawyer adds.
Level 4 Water Conservation prohibits all outdoor water use.
Penalty for non-compliance to the Level 4 order is a shut off of service connection following one written notice delivered to the property owner or occupant of residence.
Sawyer said the levels of the main reservoir and water treatment plant increased during the night but village officials expect those to decline as residents use water.
Sunday afternoon the village water system was compromised by a mudslide on Josephine Creek, which empties into Kemp Creek. The slide affected the water flows into the main reservoir.
The village is now using water from the Kaslo River. However the flows are not as great as the former system forcing officials to seek resident’s help to conserve water usage.
The Village of Kaslo, the oldest incorporated community in the Kootenays, is located 70 kilometers north of Nelson on Highway 31 on the shores of Kootenay Lake.
For updates go to the Village of Kaslo website at: http://www.kaslo.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp
Red alert in Kaslo after mudslide shuts off water flow to the main reservoir
The Village of Kaslo has issued a red alert to residents after a mudslide on Josephine Creek, which empties into Kemp Creek, severely compromised water flows to the main reservoir said Chief Administrative Officer Rae Sawyer Sunday.
Fact is the mudslide completely wiped out the main water dam to the village.
“It’s completely gone,” Sawyer told The Nelson Daily Sunday night.
“The dam on Kemp Creek Kemp Creek is gone and the reservoir is not filling up.”
The slide occurred sometime around noon Sunday.
A contractor working in the area of the reservoir alerted village officials, which went into damage control.
“Right now we’ve switched over to emergency water supplies from the Kaslo River but we’re having a hard time keeping up with the demand,” Sawyer explained.
The slide had destroyed the dam, built of concrete and steel, which holds the intake to the main reservoir so no water is draining into the system.
“We don’t know yet if we can rebuild the dam at the same site . . . we’re still assessing that,” Sawyer explained.
“At this time we’re running on emergency systems from the Kaslo River that drains into a small reservoir in the water treatment plant.
“It’s a small reservoir that can’t handle the normal demands of the village and that’s what we’re concerned about.”
Sawyer is hopeful residents comply with the village alert to conserve water.
“We’re asking residents to simply use extreme water conservation,” Sawyer said. “Restrict water consumption to interior household use and set drinking water aside.”
Sawyer said the staff is still assessing the situation and is hopeful a plan will be put into place to fix the problem in a few days.
For updates go to the Village of Kaslo website at: http://www.kaslo.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp
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