The Village of Donalda fire hydrants are out of service until further notice.
Issuing a media release on May 10, the village notes that the main standpipe which is used to feed the hydrants has been decommissioned due to a “critical infrastructure failure.”
During its May 10 council meeting, the County of Stettler addressed the issue noting that the failure has to do with the village’s water tower.
The hydrant failure comes at a time when the County and Stettler Regional Fire Department are in the process of re-staffing and re-equipping the Donalda Fire Hall.
While regular residential water service in the village will not be affected by the decommissioning of the standpipe, according to the release there will be insufficient water flow to keep the hydrants in service.
The Stettler Regional Fire Department and mutual aid partners have been notified of the change in status and fire departments will utilize water tankers to support firefighting efforts.
While the village is investigating whether or not a remediation effort will be able to return, at least temporarily, the standpipe back into service, the municipality has recently been approved for funding allowing the construction of an underground reservoir and pumphouse which would serve as a long-term solution.
The anticipated start of construction on that project is 2024.
Funding will be through the Alberta Municipal Water-Wastewater Partnership which will cover 75 per cent of eligible project costs, to a maximum of just under $3 million.