Some businesses in Swan River, Man., won’t open Monday and services are being scaled back as crews work around the clock to find a solution to a water shortage that’s led the town to call a local state of emergency and bring in truckloads of bottled water for residents.
The state of emergency was called Sunday after officials noticed water from the community’s well had mysteriously stopped flowing to the water treatment plant around 8 p.m. CT Saturday.
Schools will also remain closed in the community Monday, and McKenzie says many businesses and restaurants have also decided not to open until the taps start running again.
"We’re trying to find out what the problem is but nothing has been found at this point in time."
Earlier in the day Sunday, Swan River’s deputy mayor, Lance Jacobson, told CBC News the town’s two main wells "just quit pumping water to the facility," and that officials are hoping to get a third well working and pump water from it overland if necessary.
‘It was just insane’ Meanwhile, McKenzie says two semi-trailer loads of bottled water and a tanker of potable water has been brought in and is available to residents at the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School.
She said the town’s grocery stores had sold out of water within hours of opening.
"Everybody has been reducing the amount of water and the different businesses and community organizations," he said.
The mayor wouldn’t speculate on how long the emergency water supply will last, but remains hopeful a solution will be found soon.
"Hopefully some of the options that we’re working on will resolve the situation within the next 24 hours."