Planned water shut-down for Iqaluit March 20 delayed

Some residents of Iqaluit learned March 19 that they would face a temporary utilidor shutdown scheduled for the afternoon of March 20. (FILE PHOTO)

(Updated at 3:30 p.m.)

Iqaluit’s water woes continued March 19 with a public service announcement from the city informing residents of a temporary utilidor shutdown scheduled for the afternoon of March 20.

Then, at about 3:15 p.m. on March 20, the city sent out another notice, advising residents that the temporary planned water main shutdown, “scheduled to for 1:00 p.m. today has been delayed until further notice.”

“Residents who are affected by this, are asked to turn back on their water circulation pumps in their homes,” the city said in the March 20 notice, which apologized for the inconvenience this may have caused.

The shutdown, which was to be in effect between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., was to impact the following areas, according to the city’s announcement:

• Units in the 100s on Sinaa Street;

• Units in the 200s on Nipisa Street; and,

• Units in the 300s toward the Iqaluit cemetery.

“This includes housing units on Ataani Lane, Kuujjuaq Street and Qajaq Lane,” the announcement read.

“The temporary water shutdown is necessary to repair a water-main bleed that is frozen.”

City crews began work March 13 to restore water to residents in the 400 and 500 units of the town’s Happy Valley area.

As of March 16, some residents in that area were still without water.

The March 19 and the March 20 notices from the city said residents can call Paul Keenainak, at 222-2941, for further information.

Keenainak might be getting tired of answering queries, however.

When contacted by Nunatsiaq News for more information on the shut-down and problems from earlier in the week, Keenainak said, “I have no comment. You should refer to the PSAs that are being provided. Thanks for your time. Bye.”