Water quality issues at the Buffalo Pound water treatment plant, which supplies Moose Jaw, Regina and rural communities with drinking water, have prompted Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency to initiative a controlled release from Lake Diefenbaker.
The release will replace water in Buffalo Pound, which is affected by an early and several onset of algae blooms.
Outflow from Buffalo Pound to the Qu’Appelle River will increase over the next four days and residents, and lake users will notice the water drop about 10 centimetres.
Then, the outflow will be reduced and the water from Lake Diefenbaker will flow in over seven days. This will increase the water level in Buffalo Pound by about 15 cm.
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Residents and communities along the Qu’Appelle River, from Buffalo Pound to Lumsden, are advised of increased flow. However, the water will still be well within the normal channel.
Levels on Last Mountain Lake and the Qu’Appelle lakes aren’t expected to rise.
Residents who use water from the Buffalo Pound system have been asked to limit water use by not watering lawns, washing cars, etc. The city of Regina asked people to cut use by 25 percent, but said it saw only a five to 10 percent decrease.
Contact karen.briere@producer.com
