A temporary water line is being built across the Bawtree Bridge in Enderby to alleviate a mandatory conservation advisory.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

ENDERBY - Emergency work is underway to get a temporary water line installed across the river in Enderby.

Residents have been on a boil water advisory and mandatory water conservation order since May 5 due to elevated river turbidity and the loss of a major water main in April.

Now, the City is working as fast as it can to get construct a temporary line across the Shuswap River, using the Bawtree Bridge.

“We are optimistic it will be functional by Friday. Once that occurs, we will be able to ease back significantly on the Mandatory Water Conservation,” the city posted Tuesday, May 9, on its Facebook page.

Once the temporary line is installed, the city will test the water for bacteria and may be able to lift the boil water advisory, pending approval from Interior Health. Updates on the boil water advisory are not expected until next week. Until then, the advisory remains in effect. 

Work crews are hoping to complete the temporary line before a storm moves in on Thursday.

“The timing will be close here, but if this hits before the temporary line is established and the river goes crazy again, we will again be shuttling water. Right now, the river has calmed down a bit and we are able to make water through our filters that can keep up with the reduced demand due to the public's assistance. If the river turbidity goes through the roof, we will need to start shuttling water across the bridge again.”

Last weekend, the city was forced to shuttle water into the city via fire trucks to keep up with demand. At that point, officials warned of a possibly imminent loss of water unless people drastically cut down their usage.

In light of the coming storm, the City is also reminding residents that sandbags and sand are available just outside of the public works yard on McGowan Street.

If your property is at risk of flooding due to overland flow associated with high rains, we encourage you to take some proactive steps to protect your property, the City states.

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