Washout puts city water supply in jeopardy (update, photos)

10:58 a.m. update:

PUC says there are no indications that the city’s water supply has been compromised, but crews are on scene working to confirm that.

A washout last night in Gros Cap has officials trying to determine whether the line carrying raw water from Lake Superior to the west end treatment plant may have been affected by the washout.

“We’re just investigating if, and I stress if, the main underneath was compromised,” said Giordan Zin, a PUC spokesperson.

The water line in question provides the city with roughly 50 percent of its drinking water supply. The rest comes from wells.

“Nothing right now indicates the system has been compromised. We just want to get there and double-check really,” he said.

He said PUC has “all hands on deck,” as crews work with engineers to divert the water from the washout in order to be able to examine the supply line.

“We’ve been there since last night. The big thing is diverting the water,” said Zin.

7:55 a.m. Sault Ste. Marie Police Service news release:

The road had been washed out putting a major water pipeline in jeopardy.

That pipeline supplies the City of Sault Ste. Marie with the majority of its water.

The City Engineering Officials, the PUC and the MTO have all responded.

The road is currently shut down to facilitate repairs that are estimated to take 24 hours

Highway washout near Gros Cap