Fortifying water well priority for Virden
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The Town of Virden has built defensive walls around its water well to protect against the Assiniboine River, which could flow into the well and pollute the town’s water supply if the river rises high enough.
The well that supplies water to Virden has been fortified with an improved berm, and additional protection has been installed including sandbags, pumps and generators.
The town built the flood defences as a proactive measure and declared a state of local emergency on Tuesday to support the effort, CAO Neil Smith told the Sun.
“The state of local emergency is due to this well being the town’s primary supply of raw water,” he said in an email. Were it compromised, we’d be unable to meet treated water demand in the town for a number of days.”
No negative impacts had been recorded as of early Wednesday afternoon at the well, he said. A crew is watching the river on a 24-hour rotation.
“The next few days will be critical, although the forecast is looking a little better today.”
Virden’s water well is located outside of town, along Provincial Road 259, which intersects with the Assiniboine River. The river is expected to rise significantly within a week as floodwaters head downstream.
In case the river does rise over the fortifications and contaminate the well, Smith said that the Town of Virden is preparing to respond.
“In case the worst happens, we are discussing alternate water supply arrangements in partnership with the provincial government and other agencies, but there could be supply interruptions and advisories for a time. However, we’re not there yet,” Smith said.
Mayor Tina Williams noted that the state of emergency improves the town’s ability to respond and call for support.
“It gives us a few powers if we have to make really quick decisions,” she said. If something were to go wrong, like if the berm were to be breached, if the well was to get contaminated, having that makes it easier for us to reach out to the province for help.
“I don’t think that we’re going to need it. But you’d rather be safe than sorry.”
She noted that she has been reviewing water levels from a previous flood in 2014 and said that based on those levels, it looks like Virden will be OK this year — “but one rain event can change things.”
» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com