Chris Clegg
South Peace News

A boil water advisory which began in December remains in effect in the Smoky River region.

The Smoky River Regional Water Management Commission is currently undergoing a clarifier replacement in the water treatment plant located at Falher, cites a news release on the Town of Falher’s website.

The project is currently scheduled to be completed on Jan. 18.

The news release adds, “Due to the ongoing difficulties treating the water to the required turbidity with the temporary clarifier, we are expecting that Alberta Health Services will keep us on the Boil Water Order until the new clarifier is commissioned in January. We are continuing to work with external resources such as Alberta Environment, engineers, and chemical experts to try to make this temporary clarifier perform better while the reconstruction of our permanent clarifier is underway.”

In the meantime, random testing is occurring in the distribution system and samples sent to the provincial lab in Edmonton.

“So far, all samples have tested negative for e-coli and total coliform.”

Additional testing will continue during the duration of the project to show that the water is free of e-coli, total coliform and other parasites despite the turbidity challenges.

There are no plans to turn off water distribution to the communities served by the Water Commission including Falher, Girouxville, Donnelly, Jean Cote, Guy, and customers of the Smoky River Water Coop.

Truck fills in each community remain closed.