Epcor called before Edmonton Utility Committee over mandatory water ban

The E.L. Smith water treatment plant in Edmonton on Jan. 31, 2024. (John Hanson/CTV News Edmonton)

The chair of Edmonton's Utility Committee is calling on Epcor to provide an overview of the events surrounding this week's mandatory non-essential use water ban.

The ban was issued Monday after a failure at the E.L Smith water treatment plant, and is expected to be in place until Sunday afternoon.

On Wednesday committee chair and Ward pihêsiwin Coun. Tim Cartmell thanked Edmontonians for complying with the ban, but said Epcor must show the committee, to whom it also justifies its rate increases, that a similar event won't happen in the future.

"We want to give people some assurance that we are going to ask those questions," Cartmell told CTV News Edmonton.

He says he was surprised to learn a failure at one of the treatment plants could result in a lack of water for the region.

"I think it's most concerning for those businesses that rely on that water for their business," he said.

"They don't have line of sight on when they can get back to proper ordinary work conditions. So there's a piece there that we need to dig into."

Cartmell says an Epcor representative will attend the Utility Committee meeting on March 4.