With temperatures expected to drop in the coming weeks and as snow slowly creeps down the mountains concern is growing once again in Prince Rupert amid confirmation last month by Mayor Herb Pond that Prince Rupert’s Water system infrastructure may be in a much more precarious situation that previously disclosed by the city.

During a Chamber luncheon, Mayor pond describe the critical state of Prince Rupert water pipes, some more than 100 years, and that the situation could get worse before it gets better if federal funds earmarked for a complete overhaul of Prince Rupert’s water mains doesn’t come through soon.

Just this past year there have been more than 22 water main ruptures in the City of 12,000 people. In comparison, Richmond, with a population 20 times larger than Prince Rupert has seen only a handful, and winter is just around the corner.

During his address at the chamber luncheon in late September Mayor Pond admitted the city hasn’t been completely forthcoming with how serious the situation is, telling the group of local business leaders and residents that in December 2022 the cities reservoirs was 45 minutes away from being complexity dry, which could have lead to catastrophic ruptures throughout the entire water system.

Although Mayor Pond said the situation is dire, he also reassured residents that crews are working extremely hard to ensure the city is as best prepared for the coming winter, when freezing temperatures are expected to cause more damage this year, but that he is hopeful the federal funding needed to remedy the situation will come soon.

We’ll check in with Mayor Herb Pond about what this city needs to fix their water problems and how they are preparing for this coming winter.