City says water reservoirs stable for now, but deep cold could freeze river flows.
Dawson Creek is still able to pump water from the Kiskatinaw River and keep its reservoirs full, but chief administrative officer Kevin Henderson warns that a prolonged cold snap with windchills near -40 C could freeze the river solid.
If that happens, flows could stop within weeks.
The city first declared a state of emergency in October while working to get permits for a temporary water line from the Peace River, about 50 kilometres away, and has now extended the order to Dec. 23, 2025, to keep response options open. This would allow quick action to set up hose lines along highways and start pumping if reservoir levels drop.
Currently, Dawson Creek has about 180 days of water stored, enough until May, but much depends on the weather.
The last full freeze of the Kiskatinaw was in January 2024, forcing reliance on stored water for six weeks.
The river has been the city’s only water source since 1942, serving about 15,000 people, but plans are in motion for a permanent pipeline from the Peace River, a project expected to cost over $100 million and take years to finish.
-with files from CBC
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