PBCN says crews are responding to a critical failure affecting the Pelican Narrows raw water intake system.

On their website PBCN says the issue is limiting the amount of water entering the treatment system and poses a serious risk of a system shutdown and freeze-up if reservoir levels drop too low, officials said.

In a news release Vice Chief Justin Halcrow said the next 48 to 72 hours are critical. He says if they lose circulation in the system, the consequences could be catastrophic for homes and community infrastructure during winter conditions and explained that the problem involves the line that draws water from the lake into the wet well and water treatment plant.

They are still trying to determine the exact cause, but technical teams believe the restriction is occurring upstream of the treatment plant rather than at the pumps themselves.  Emergency water tankers have been deployed to help maintain circulation and prevent freeze-up.

PBCN leadership says reducing water use right now helps protect the entire system and as a precaution, the community remains under a boil water advisory. Schools in Pelican Narrows have been closed for the remainder of the week to reduce demand on the system. Other high water-use public facilities may also remain closed or operate at reduced capacity while the situation is assessed.