Slight reprieve from oil slick

Photo: The Canadian Press

A precautionary boil-water advisory for several Saskatchewan communities affected by a leak of oil into the North Saskatchewan River has been lifted.

The advisory covered the city of Melfort, a number of outlying communities and many rural users.

The region normally takes its drinking water from the North Saskatchewan, but the arrival of the slick at the intake forced a switch to a former reservoir.

Although the water is being treated, the precaution was put in place because of concerns it may not meet safe standards.

Melfort Mayor Rick Lang says the province's Water Security Agency has lifted the advisory because the quality is better than anticipated.

Between 200,000 and 250,000 litres of crude oil leaked into the river from a Husky Energy (TSX:HSE) pipeline near Maidstone, Sask., on July 21.

The communities that were also advised to boil their water were Star City, Kinistino, Weldon, Beatty, Fairy Glen, Gronlid, Eldersley and Brooksby.

Tanked potable water was still being provided at Melfort city hall on Thursday.

River water intakes for the cities of North Battleford and Prince Albert are shut down and measures to conserve drinking water are in place.