Telkwa residents are being asked to conserve water from May 9 - May 20 while Village crews empty and inspect the Morris Road Reservoir.
Residents will still receive water from the water treatment plant and the Trobak Reservoir while the Morris Reservoir is offline during this phase of the Morris Reservoir Refurbishment Project.
According to a press release from the Village the Morris Reservoir was built in 1983 and was the Village’s only water reservoir until the Trobak Reservoir, on the east side of the Village, came into use in December 2019. Previously, the supply, treatment, and storage of water was isolated entirely to the west side of the Bulkley River. This made the east side of Telkwa particularly vulnerable in that it was serviced by a single main crossing the Bulkley River on the Bulkley River Bridge. The Morris Reservoir was the only reservoir at the time and lacked the capacity to meet the water supply needs of the Village, much less accommodate new growth.
The Morris Reservoir Refurbishment Project involves the installation of isolation valves and a drain line;Access improvements for worker safety; Installation of mixing equipment for improved water quality; Draining the reservoir for inspection of existing structure; Cleaning and disinfecting the reservoir; and any necessary repairs that are identified in the inspection.
Director of Operations Lev Hartfeil said the Morris Reservoir Refurbishment Project is an important step in the Village’s ongoing efforts to increase the water supply capacity in order to allow for continued growth.
The Union of BC Municipalities is funding this project through the Canada Community-Building Funds.