A new radiator has arrived in Old Crow for the community’s broken-down water truck.
The truck, used to transport water from the community’s water treatment plant to residents, broke down Aug. 5.
In an interview the same day, Peter Frost, a foreman with the Department of Highways and Public Works’ transportation maintenance branch, told the News that the truck first broke down over the weekend due to a cracked radiator. He was able to repair it with a patch kit, but the truck broke down again, this time for good, after delivering water to about half of Old Crow’s residents that morning.
Frost said he was waiting on two things — for new parts, including a radiator, to be shipped up from down south, and for approval to use the community’s back-up water truck in the meantime.
The back-up truck needs to be disinfected of any possible contaminants or debris and cleared by the Yukon’s environmental health services branch before it can be used. Frost said he’d sent out swab samples and expects to have results back by Aug. 6.
In the meantime, Frost said notices had been posted around the community asking residents to use water efficiently.
“I think we’ll be alright with the other truck. I’m hoping we are,” he said.
“This is a remote community,” he added. “The trucks break down once in awhile and you just can’t ask for miracles when it comes to mechanics or parts. It’s gotta comes from the States, some of the parts, so we do the best we can.”
In a separate interview, Department of Highways and Public Works spokesperson Oshea Jephson confirmed that a mechanic who had been in Old Crow early last week noticed a crack in the water truck’s radiator.
“A patch kit was immediately ordered for that truck along with a replacement radiator at the same time. The patch kit arrived over the weekend and (the radiator) was patched and the truck was used but patch kits are short-term, so we’re just waiting for the radiator to arrive,” Jephson said.
Jephson confirmed the morning of Aug. 6 that the radiator had arrived in the community, and that a mechanic was being sent up to install it.
Old Crow draws its water from two wells. The water is then processed at a local treatment plant before being trucked to residents.
Contact Jackie Hong at jackie.hong@yukon-news.com
