CHARLIE LAKE -- After three years of fighting, residents of a trailer park in Charlie Lake could have their drinking water problem solved-- but residents remain skeptical.
Cassandra Ross says she will believe it when she sees it.
“We have heard from them on three separate occasions, the three other contractors that were working on the water,” said Ross.
Ross claims there’s been inconsistencies with different contractors who have been called in to make repairs to an existing water treatment facility.
According to Ross, the contractors seem to just “disappear” with the problems going unresolved.
In letters addressed to residents, Sterling Management, who oversees the year-round park, says they're beginning construction on a new water treatment facility starting Tuesday.
The management company is warning residents that the repair will cause discoloured water, an odour of chlorine, and temporary water shut offs will be in place while the work is being done.
Ross has been a voice for residents of the trailer park who have been pleading with Sterling Management for safe drinking water, and has even been successful in taking the company to court.
“They won't give us any information in any way, shape or form and never have,” said Ross.
In May of 2022, Northern Health issued a 'do not consume' order for the park after unsafe levels of manganese had been detected.
Northern Health says concentrations in the trailer park are around 2.0 milligrams per litre while the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) is below 0.12 milligrams per litre.
Manganese has also been linked to neurological effects in young children.
Sterling Management has provided no timeline as to when the repairs will be complete.
