Business owners relieved after water restrictions lifted in P.A.

Businesses in Prince Albert are getting back to normal after the city announced emergency restrictions on water use by commercial businesses had been lifted as of 9 a.m. Thursday.

Shelley Gordon, owner and manager of 6th Avenue Car Wash, said reopening her business was welcome news, but the water restrictions’ impact on the company’s bottom line could be long lasting.

“Thousands of dollars were lost because of the closure,” Gordon said. “Long-term repercussions are hard to figure out.”

Anna Nguyen, manager of 7 Day Cleaning Centre on 2nd Avenue, also expects to feel the pinch of the closure.

“The last week or last 10 days of July, that is the busiest time of the year for us,” Nguyen said.

Both Husky Energy and the city have said businesses forced to close or limit their operations are eligible for reimbursement from the oil company through their insurance plan.

As of Thursday, no applications for reimbursement had been approved.

In a statement released to media Thursday, city officials said all restrictions related to businesses had been lifted and businesses forced to close could now reopen; however, restrictions on civic operations remained in place.

The municipal water crane, Kinsman Water Park and treated water irrigation at Cooke Municipal Golf all remain closed for the time being.

Ground crews at the golf course are able to use water collected from their pond, between the third and fifth holes, to water their greens and perform other maintenance for the time being.