Water service restored at Parker School area

Water service in the Parker School area on the east side of Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation has been restored, after low groundwater levels caused three households to temporarily lose access to running water.

Chippewa Cree Tribal Water Resources Director Dustin White said Tuesday that water service has since been restored to all households in the affected area.

He said the loss was caused by low water pressure brought on by a lack of groundwater.

White said the drought has been having an affect not only on the surface water, the water that is above ground.

“There is just no recirculation of that surface water, so that groundwater is drying up and not getting replenished,” he said.

White said the problems became apparent Friday when customers began losing water tank pressure.

Initially the trouble was thought to have been caused by a small water break which was soon fixed, he said, adding that water pressure was still low. It was soon discovered the water pump was sucking air due to the lack of groundwater, White said.

White said that when they found that the water levels were down, the pump was temporarily removed and pipe added to move it down into the well. White said the pump now sits 110 feet down, in a well that is only 120 feet in depth.

“So we really can’t drop it anymore,” White said.

The situation has somewhat improved, he said. White said about six to eight inches of water were in the affected water tank, whereas Monday the tank had four inches.

White added he estimates it will be seven to ten days before the water tanks are operating at full capacity.

Water restrictions and a burning ban have been in place on the reservation since July due to declining water levels.