Leaking water main at seniors’ care facilities to be replaced

REGINA – Residents at Pioneer Village and Pioneer Manor noticed a few changes Thursday, after a small leak turned into a full-scale water main replacement.

A pool of water was discovered in the Pioneer Village basement on Friday, Apr. 3 and staff at the Reqina Qu’Appelle Health Region believe it is coming from a connection between newer PVC pipe and old infrastructure just outside Pioneer Village.

The health region has chosen to take proactive measures, and replace the entire pipe.

“With the age of the building, we’re constantly challenged with keeping the building operational,” said Peter Whiteman, acting director of facility management. He said the main part of Pioneer Village was constructed in 1967. “It does need a lot of repairs. The building is getting old.”

While crews dig up the pipe, water is coming from nearby fire-hydrants.

“We do not have drinking water coming through the line, so we’ve had to provide alternate sources for drinking water,” said Debbie Sinnett, the executive director of long term care.

Orange signs have been posted at every sink, reminding residents they should not drink tap water.

Instead, bottled water has been brought in for around 500 residents that call the buildings home.

“For some of our residents who may be cognitively impaired, and won’t understand, we’ve taken the extra step and shut off water to those sinks,” Sinnett added.

Until the pipe is repaired, residents will be receiving sponge baths and using disposable dishes to conserve water.

Crews are expected to be done construction by the end of the day Friday. At that point, public health inspectors will test the water quality over a 48 hour period.

The health authority is unsure how much repairs will cost.