Murky water temporary in Charlottetown harbour, due to accomodation for tall ship

The Charlottetown harbour near the yacht club was briefly filled with murky water Wednesday, because a city-owned hydrant wasbeing flushed out in order to supply Chilean tall ship Esmeraldawith clean drinking water.

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"This is just a temporary hook up," said Edward Rice, chair of the Water and Sewer Commission for the City of Charlottetown. "Thisaway toaccommodatea special visitor."

Rice said ships usually fill up on drinking water at the Harbour Authority, but because Esmeraldawill be docked at Queen's Wharf during her stay, the city has hooked up one of the ship's hoses to the hydrant at Queen's wharf.

"It's not our regular service port," he explained.

High volume of visitors

The city has only provided this service to one other ship, which was the HMCS Charlottetown.

Like many ships,Esmeraldahas its own desalination system, which turns sea water into drinking water, but with so many visitors in such a short period of time, Rice said the boat was in need of a top up.

"It's got 300 people aboard it working.Yesterday it took in 2,000 tourists," he said.

The city ischarging the commercial rate for the water it pumps into Esmeralda.

And for those concerned about any more murky water runoff, Rice said it's no longer a problem now that the hydrant has been flushed out.

The tall ship will set sail for Quebecon Friday.

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