Rising water could cut off Ottawa water purification plant

City officials say access to a major water treatment plant in west Ottawa is at risk from the rising Ottawa River.

Cassels Street is the only road to theBritannia Water Purification Plant, and the military will bemaking sure it remains accessible,said city manager Steve Kanellakos.

"There's a section of that road that, if it becomes flooded, prevents us from bringing in the chemicals required to treat the water," Kanellakos said at Friday afternoon's update on the flood threat.

• Ottawa residents could be asked to leave homes over flood risk
• Ottawa River now predicted to rise 50 cm over 2017 levels

"We don't have the ability to stockpile enough chemicals in our [Britannia] water filtration plant to deal with the next three weeks, should we lose that road."

The Britannia plant and the LemieuxIsland Water Purification Plant together process 90 per cent of the city's water from the Ottawa River.

The capacity of the Britannia plantis only slightly less than that of Lemieux Island, according to the City of Ottawawebsite.

'Protect that road at all costs'

Kanellakos said the plant is an example of the critical infrastructure the military was called in to protect duringthe state of emergency.

"We're directing our military partners to and our staff to sandbag and protect that road at all costs," he said.

Laila Gibbons, director of public safety and environment services, said crews will need to protect the street with sandbags by late Saturday or Sunday.

Stakes have been placed on Cassels Street so crews will knowit's still safe to drive onshould it be covered in water, Gibbons said.

Gibbons said staff are also monitoring Lemieux Island, but so far they're not concerned about that plant being flooded.