The vast majority of Merrittonians will be able to return back home once the City gets its water systems back up and running.

Greg Lowis, the City’s Emergency Information Manager, told NL News that residents were evacuated because staff were not able to supply them with drinking water and process waste water.

“Our big concern when it comes to hazardous materials at this point is our water supply. Because there was contamination in the wells, we had to turn off the water supply,” he said.

“At the moment, it is not possible for us to deliver water that is fit for human consumption so we had to turn off the taps. Anyone turning on the faucet that is connected to the municipal system, gets nothing.”

On Monday, the City of Merritt said its wastewater treatment plant had failed after it was inundated by flood water.

Lowis says it will take crews five days to get the plant back up and running, once they’re able to get into the facility.

“Even once we can assess the damage, if we can repair the system, health regulations require that we flush the system for at least five days after that point so even if I snap my fingers and the system was working now, it would be five days before anyone could come back,” he added. “Realistically, there is no way this evacuation is being lifted before the next week.”

“Anyone who lives in those areas of town that were not directly affected by the flooding will be able to return once we get those systems back online.”

Lowis says he knows there are other Merritt residents who’s houses have been damaged by the floods this week, adding it will be difficult to get those people because back home “for some time to come.”

“The RCMP are doing an incredible job,” he said. “They are more than double staffed, they have pulled in resources, and they are patrolling and manning entrances to the city to make sure that people who shouldn’t be here can’t get in.”

As well, he did say that some people who need to transit through Merritt to get to and from work outside City limits, will be allowed to pass through the community with a convoy system that got underway Tuesday evening, Nov. 16, at the two checkpoints – at Coldwater Road near Exit 286 on the Coquihalla and opposite Norgaard Ready-Mix by Highway 8.

“They will be able to bunch up and be escorted through the city, not stopping, and not using any services, even though nobody else is allowed to enter the city,” Lowis said.

Houston Street bridge reopens

The Houston Street bridge across the Coldwater River in Merritt has been reopened with no load restrictions after it was inspected by a structural engineer.

It is currently the only way for people and emergency crews to cross the Coldwater River, though the Main Street bridge will also be inspected to see if it too can be reopened to traffic.

“That is absolutely vital because we had to inform residents of the Collettville area yesterday that if they were still in that area we couldn’t risk sending firefighters or ambulance personnel across the two bridges that had not collapsed because there is one which had fallen into the river,” Lowis said.

“Once we get the engineers inspection of those bridges, we’ll have a much better idea of how we are looking for those and whether or not they can be safe.”

The Middlesboro bridge on Voght Street has collapsed because of floods.

People in Merritt being urged to leave

The City of Merritt is also still asking residents who chose to stay behind to leave . That is as some of those who stayed behind voiced their anger at city officials because of a lack of services.

“We ordered everyone to leave Merritt for their own safety, until we could restore vital services,” Lowis said. “We know there are some people who have chosen to remain in Merritt, and are aggravated at the lack of services.”

“Unfortunately, when those people chose to remain in a City that was under Evacuation Order, they chose to be here without drinking water, without waste water, and in some sections of the City without fire or ambulance response.”

Lowis says people who want municipal services need to be in Kelowna, Penticton, or Salmon Arm as Merritt City staff work on restoring vital services, including potable water, wastewater treatment, and bridge access.

“Once it is safe to be in Merritt again, the Evacuation Order will be lifted, and people will be able to return home,” Lowis said.