Less than twenty-four hours after asking its member municipalities to implement a mandatory 15 per cent reduction in usage, the Pembina Valley Water Co-op is indicating the situation has become even more serious.

“The situation is actually quite critical today (June 3rd),” explained C.E.O Greg Archibald. “The request we made for municipalities to reduce usage, it turns out the usage went up yesterday. It may be in anticipation of people being able to fill up a little bit to reduce usage, but we're now in a critical situation where our (Letellier Water Treatment Plant) reservoir went down from 3.65 (meters) to 3.2 (meters) last night.”

Archibald explains that means about 8,000 cubic meters of water went out for use.

“We're to the point, where if the usage doesn't get reduced, our pressure will be reduced, and then it could cause people to go into a boil water advisory.”

According to information published to the Water Co-op's website Thursday morning, at the current rate of use, if the Letellier plant were to break down for any reason the reservoir would be empty in less than 6 hours.

“It's urgent at this stage the public reduce their water usage,” he stressed.

In an interview with PembinaValleyOnline Wednesday, Archibald noted there's certainly adequate water in the Red River, but the Co-op’s infrastructure at the Letellier plant doesn't allow it to pull any more water out than it already is, adding the plant has been running at maximum capacity for the last few days.

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“We're asking for public support to reduce water usage right now, so we can maintain quality water for everybody,” said Archibald. “We can't hold the system operating at the rate the water is going out.”

He noted it’s an urgent situation for the Co-op, and public cooperation in the necessary reduction in water usage is crucial.

“We are in discussions with the municipalities trying to find some alternate water sources, maybe some other sources of water for some of the ag sector that would reduce the load on the system,” said Archibald. “Right now we just need everybody to reduce for a period of time, so the system is available for everybody.”

The Co-op has provided a list of tips on how water usage can be reduced including things like not water the lawn, washing vehicles of cleaning buildings among other ideas.