A look at the partially submerged barge inside Picton Bay at Picton Terminals in an incident that occurred Friday. Photo: Dave Tugwood/Facebook- Save Picton Bay
UPDATE: Prince Edward County Mayor Robert Quaiff will provide an update to the ongoing water situation in Prince Edward County at 3:30 this afternoon, at Shire Hall. You can watch the live-stream of the remarks by clicking here. Meanwhile, both the Candian Coast Guard and McKeil Marine, the company which chartered the sunken barge, say they’re working together to mitigate any risks of refloating the barge, as they prepare to do that.
Residents in Prince Edward County, who use the Picton-Bloomfield Drinking Water System are still being asked to conserve their water, although efforts to refill system storage at the plant have resumed.
No other water supply systems in the county are being affected, but users of the Picton-Bloomfield system should limit their water use to only essential needs, to make sure reserves stay at acceptable levels, in case the plant has to be shut down again.
Mayor Robert Quaiff declared a state of emergency Tuesday as a precaution after contaminants from a partially submerged barge entered the Picton intake protection Zone 1, but didn’t flow into the intake pipe.
County officials say they’re continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Updates will be posted on our website and on-air, as well as the Prince Edward County notice site and via the county’s social media channels, with updates coming later in the day.
Meanwhile, efforts to recover the partially submerged barge in the Picton Harbour, which caused the issue in the first place, continue through today.
