Penhold council discussed communication strategies during emergency shutdowns at its recent council meeting as a result of the Nov. 12 pipe repair to the water reservoir along Highway 2A.
“I had heard from a number of Penhold citizens that they were not aware of the water shutdown,” said Coun. Mike Walsh at the Nov. 24 council meeting. “Perhaps we should have gone door to door and told people about the possible water shutdown. Not everyone is on Facebook or checks the town website all the time.”
Penhold town councillors and administration posted news of the expected two and a half hour repair on Facebook, Twitter and the town website when the water service disruption was made official.
“While the water shutdown was necessary it was the first of possibly a few more with the new reservoir being built on the north end of town,” said Dennis Cooper, mayor of Penhold, who added the initial communication response to the public was quick. “We appreciated the patience of Penhold citizens during the disruption.”
Cooper noted work crews discovered a leaking 10-foot length of pipe from 1980 during construction on the new reservoir project, which required replacing.
“The contractor was contacted and an emergency water shut-off was anticipated towards the evening,” said Cooper. “By 5 p.m. contractors were on-site and worked on the “unexpected extreme pipe rupture” in the water line and it was taking “longer than expected.”
According to town officials, water service was restored late in the evening and as of early morning on Nov. 13 full water service had been restored.
Penhold Councillor Mike Walsh
"I had heard from a number of Penhold citizens that they were not aware of the water shutdown,"
