Potlotek First Nation residents frustrated by frozen water tank

A frozen water tower continues to pose problems for residents of the Potlotek First Nation in Cape Breton and they're looking for answers.

The water supply is limited, unpredictable and sometimes brown for about 40 homes.

The water tank froze last week in a flash freeze.The stem, or draw pipe,of the tank is plugged with ice. Water can be drawn from the tank, but because of the blockageit can't be replenished.

"Other communities have water towers and they don't run out of water.What is wrong with us? What's going on here? That's what I'd like to know,"said Bernadette Marshall, aPotlotek resident.

The PotlotekFirst Nation is located near St. Peter's, Cape Breton.

Houses are unable to get water for most of the day.

"I'm kind oftired of this. We have to get our own water, like fill up buckets and we have to go out and look for the water, yeah, for washing dishes and stuff,"said Mary Anne Marshall, another resident.

Engineering a solution

The director of public works and housing for the Potlotek First Nation, Quentin Doucette,saida current engineering study is looking at the whole water system.

He saidpublic works employees have examined the pipe and are trying to figure out a way of thawing the water tower, besides waiting for the weather to warm up.

"One of our better ideas probably right now is to get some heat and pump heat up to the top, like a portable heater," he said.

"They call it a salamander to tarp into the bottom area and try to heat it until it can start flowing down again."

Doucette saidthey need to consult with engineers on how to execute that plan safely.

Residents want to see the problem fixed and are demanding action.

"I would like to see more of our administration resolve this as soon as possible," said Bernadette Marshall.