SASKATOON – After four days of handing out bagged lunches instead of hot meals, the Friendship Inn learned its water was safe Tuesday afternoon. The non-profit wasn’t allowing patrons inside the building on 20th Street West because a water main break put the Inn at risk for water contamination.
“We have people that brush their teeth in our water, we have people that freshen up in our water and we just don’t want to put anyone at risk,” said Friendship Inn executive director Sandra Stack.
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City crews repaired the water main Saturday and offered the centre a temporary supply of potable water.
The advisory was lifted around 2 p.m. CT on Tuesday.
Trent Schmidt, acting director of public works with the City of Saskatoon, said it can take 48 to 72 hours to test water after a water main break.
“That’s just our standard laboratory testing time. You’re basically testing the water and making sure nothing bad grows,” Schmidt said.
Since asking for the public’s help on Saturday, local businesses and volunteers stepped up to provide bagged lunches for people in need.
Daniel Fortner was one of hundreds who visited the Friendship Inn for lunch Tuesday.
“It’s a place to warm up. It’s a place to go on the internet. It’s a place to gather and get together,” he said.
The Friendship Inn is expected to return to its regular meal services on Wednesday. Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch is available from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.