Water treatment plant fixed in Kamloops, B.C., following blown transformer

A water treatment plant in Kamloops, B.C., is back in operation, but residents were still being asked to watch their water usage. (Photo: Joe Shlabotnik/ Facebook)

KAMLOOPS, B.C. –A water treatment plant in Kamloops, B.C., is back in operation, but residents were still being asked to watch their water usage.

A blown transformer caused the plant to shut down early Wednesday morning and people were asked to limit their water usage to essential needs only because there was a limited supply.

Greg Wightman, chief of the city’s emergency operations centre, says the issue was fixed around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and the plant was slowly being brought back online to make sure the system wasn’t overloaded.

The plant was pumping out drinkable water, but residents were asked to conserve water until the site gets back to operating at its normal capacity.

Wightman says people may notice some discolouration in the water, but that it is not a health issue and can be solved by running the tap until the water is clear.

He says the city will spend the next few days trying to find out what happened to prevent it from happening again.