The Ucluelet First Nation could be without potable water for longer than expected, following damage to its waterline that could presumably be linked to last week’s volcanic eruption near Tonga.
The waterline that supplies the First Nations community with hitacu̓ was broken Monday by a tugboat that pulled a wooden beam.
Community leaders say they believe the line broke loose from its anchors at the bottom of Ucluelet inlet amid aggressive tidal currents, after last Saturday’s eruption caused a tsunami alert for the area.
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Hitacu̓ residents rely on bottled water and shower at a nearby motel. They were hoping to have the line repaired by early next week.
On Saturday, however, Ucluelet district officials said the damage to the line was greater than initially believed.
“It has become clear that the existing water supply line has been irreparably damaged and will have to be completely replaced to ensure a successful and reliable water supply to Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ going forward,” the district said on its website.
It said teams had shifted strategies and were now hoping to reuse another existing underwater line to the First Nations community, and that the necessary parts for the work would arrive on Monday.
“Once it has been installed, we will be able to quickly confirm the usability of the line. This is good news, as the underwater line, once confirmed, will provide Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ with a more reliable, safe and possibly faster source of clean drinking water. ”
The approximately 250 residents of hitacu̓ remain under a do-not-use water advice, with water being driven into the community’s water tower as an auxiliary supply.
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Once a functioning waterline has been restored, it will still need to be flushed and tested before it can be considered safe to use.
Last week, a tsunami alert was issued across four zones of BC, including parts of Vancouver Island and the North Coast. An underwater volcano erupted near the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday, causing large tsunami waves to crash over the coast and rushing people to higher ground.
The disaster caused extensive damage and left at least three people dead.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is reviewing data it collected at Ucluelet Harbor, but has not yet confirmed a link between the damaged pipe and the eruption.
– with files by Elizabeth McSheffrey
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