Rigaud water crisis over

PHOTO BY JAMES ARMSTRONG

The Rigaud potable water emergency and restricted usage ended Wednesday, October 25 as the hole in the intake pipe in the Agathe Well was repaired. According to Director of Communication Services Marie-Andrée Gagnon, seen here with a sketch of the well system, the problem began with a broken weld in a pipe 200 feet below ground level. The alarm was raised Saturday, October 21, when high level of sand appeared in the filtration system. Specialized equipment was required to make the repairs. Mayor Hans Gruenwald Jr. thanked residents for their quick response to the restricted usage notices.

“It was phenomenal and saved the situation,” he said. Gagnon said wells on Rigaud Mountain provided a back-up but water reserves for emergency situations had reached a dangerously low level.