Saskatchewan oil spill poses no immediate threat in Manitoba, province says

A pipeline leak that spilled at least 200,000 litres ofoil into the North Saskatchewan River last week poses no immediate threat in neighbouring Manitoba at this time, the provincial government says.

Manitoba Sustainable Development issued a bulletin on Tuesday about the spill, saying there is "no risk to the water supply of any Manitoba community at this time."

However, officials said they are in talks with the Town of The Pas, which uses the Saskatchewan River as a source of drinking water, to discuss alternatives if required.

The pipeline break, reported by Husky Energy on Thursday, resulted in an estimated 200,000 to 250,000 litres of oil entering the North Saskatchewan River nearMaidstone, Sask.,which is approximately 220 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

• 200K litres of oil from Husky Energy pipe leaked into North Saskatchewan River, company says
• Prince Albert, Sask., declares state of emergency over oil spill
• Melfort, Sask. under precautionary boil water advisory
• Husky knew about Sask. oil spill 14 hours before pipeline was shut down

Booms were set up in various locations along the river, but those booms have been failing and a plume of oil continues to flow toward the city of Prince Albert, Sask.

Prince Albert city council declared a local state of emergency on Mondayand passed measures putting residents and businesses under strict water restrictions.

"While initial recovery efforts have shown some success, efforts to recapture the oil have been hampered by high water and floating debris," the province's bulletin states in part," Manitoba Sustainable Development's bulletin states in part.

"While containment is expected to be completed in time to protect Manitoba waterways, the slow travels of the oil slick through the eastern portions of the Saskatchewan River allow time to implement emergency plans if any cleanup is still required."

The department added that staff are "monitoring the situation closely and will advise if any further action is required."