Work crews are shown at a main sewer line break in Cochrane, Alta. on Sunday Oct. 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Bill Belsey
**MANDATORY CREDIT **
COCHRANE, Alta. – A town west of Calgary says crews have isolated the pipe break that led to water restrictions in the community, but it has asked its residents to continue conserving water during the repairs.
The Town of Cochrane declared a local state of emergency this week after an accident Saturday affected its water and wastewater pipelines, causing sewage to flow into the Bow River.
There haven’t been any issues with water quality in town or in downstream communities such as Calgary, but there had been significant water loss in Cochrane because crews were unable to isolate the water line to start repairs.
Town officials say in an online update that water is no longer leaking from that pipe and repairs have begun.
It had asked the town’s 32,000 residents, as well as its businesses, to follow emergency mandatory water conservation to make sure there was water available for fire suppression and other emergencies.
They say those efforts have been helpful and the town has stopped hauling in water from other communities, but asks residents to keep being careful with their water use.
“Significant progress has been made, and the Town of Cochrane encourages residents and businesses to continue conserving water,” said an update Thursday.
“In addition to the essential use of water to maintain personal health and hygiene, residents can take quick showers, complete an emergency load of laundry or wash dishes as a result of the improving water reservoir levels.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2023.
