CITIZEN
A boil-water advisory is in place for Crofton, as of 5 p.m. on April 13, and it’s expected to stay in place for up to three days.
The order was the result of a water leak detected Wednesday morning in the supply line that brings water from the Cowichan River to the Crofton pulp mill.
The Municipality of North Cowichan obtains water for Crofton from the mill’s treatment facility.
The location of the leak has been detected and staff from the municipality are working with the mill to repair the leak as quickly as possible.
While repairs are underway, the Crofton mill won’t be using water from the community supply.
A statement from Catalyst Paper, the mill’s owner, said the mill has also been shut down for an expected three days as a result of the water leak.
The cause of the breach, which is located in a farmer’s field near the end of Nimmo Road and Westholme Road in North Cowichan, is unknown.
Staff are currently moving Crofton to an alternate source of water, Crofton Lake, to ensure the community has continual access to water while the repairs are taking place.
The municipality is installing signs around Crofton to notify the community about the boil-water advisory, which calls for only water for cooking and drinking to be boiled before use.
All of North Cowichan’s fire departments are aware of the situation and are sensitive to the water-supply issues in Crofton.
The municipality is also in communication with Island Health on the issue, and updates will be posted at www.northcowichan.ca under “news”.
Catalyst Paper intends to use some of the time the mill will be shut down to complete maintenance activities “where it’s practical to do so.”
“We are doing everything possible to minimize the impacts of this breach and to remedy the situation as quick as possible,” said Harold Norlund, the mill’s vice president.