CANAAN — Authorities said they located a “significant leak” that has depleted much of the public water supply in Canaan Village and were hoping for a fix by sundown Saturday, according to an update Saturday evening from Town Administrator Mike Samson.
Once the leak, located at the end of Bruce Road, is repaired, officials will begin the slow process of refilling the town’s storage tank, Samson wrote, adding there will still be a reduced supply of water on Sunday.
Crews worked through the day Saturday to locate the leak, responsible for diminishing Canaan village’s water system from 300,000 gallons to 40,000 gallons of water over the past week.
“We are putting about 10,000 gallons a day into the tank but normally we use about 30,000 gallons a day,” Samson wrote to residents Saturday morning. “We are restricting use because we just don’t have enough flow to refill the tank or to handle normal usage. Use it for toilets and other necessary use.”
He added that the fire department was prepared to handle a fire and can draw water from the Indian River if need be.
Samson said officials also have discovered a problem with the line feeding water from Canaan Street Lake to the water treatment plant. Firefighters and public works employees are expected to work Sunday to install a temporary water line to the lake.
“Using this line should speed up recovery of water in the storage tank, but it will take several days,” he said.
Canaan officials on Friday afternoon asked village residents not to use the public water system while officials searched for the leak. They also said water should be boiled before use for cooking or drinking.
Village residents who need water can fill jugs and containers that they bring with them at the Mascoma Community Health Center at the corner of Route 4 and Roberts Road from 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday, Samson said.
Updated at 5:52 p.m. Saturday