Muskoday First Nation, Sask., keeping 'heads above water' during state of emergency

People on the Muskoday First Nation continue to conserve water as a state of emergency remains in place for the community.

The declaration was first made on July 27.

"[We] managed to no pun intended keep our heads above water," Chief Austin Bear said on Thursday, one day after the state of emergency was extended.

• Muskoday First Nation declares emergency over water supply

The City of Prince Albert normally supplies the First Nation with water. However, the supply was cut off when the city had to shut down its intakes following the Husky Energy oil leak into the North Saskatchewan River.

[We] managed to no pun intended keep our heads above water.- Chief Austin Bear

"We're relying on water being trucked in to our two reservoirs. And then of course it's distributed out to our community from our reservoirs."

Husky Energy has arranged for two large tanker trucks to deliver water from Melfort to the community's reservoirs. Bear said the First Nation also owns two smaller trucks that have been bringing water as well.

• Prince Albert, Sask., working to restore water to rural customers

Bear has been told by city officials in Prince Albert that the water supply will return in a few days once the city has an ample supply.

Building their own treatment plant

Thanks to a new water treatment plant being built in the community, Muskoday won't have to worry about relying on the city for water in the future.

The new treatment plant will intake water from the South Saskatchewan River, which runs through the community.

"With this issue now and the escalating cost of water we feel it's far more advantageous for us to have our own water treatment plant in our community that has the capacity in the future [as our] community is growing."

However, Bear said he still worries about the temporary waterlines and hopes a permanent solution can be found before winter arrives.