Shifting ground means end of gas service for 250 Last Mountain Lake area customers

SaskEnergysays it will remove natural gas service for about 250 property owners, due to ground movement in theLast Mountain Lake area northwest of Regina that poses a risk of underground gas leaks.

Repairs in the area since 2014 have been administered at "significantly higher rates" compared to other areas of the province, the Crown utility said in a press release.

SaskEnergy removed natural gas service due to shifting ground for about 30 customers in 2015.

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This time around,the utilityis telling residents in six communities Craven, Regina Beach, Saskatchewan Beach, Buena Vista, Shore Acres andSundale that they're losing gas service.

Regina Beach property owners have had to consider costly repairs or potential abandonment of property altogether due to damaged foundations from shifting and sloping ground.

'I give them credit for their effort'

BillDinu, mayor of the village of Buena Vista, said it's the sharedresponsibility of the community leaders and the Crown to keep citizens safe.

"If that's what they think has to happen, then that's what has to happen," he said. "I mean, we saw the explosion that took place at Regina Beach a couple of years ago."

Anaturalgas leak causedanexplosion thatlevelleda home and damaged other properties in Regina Beach in December 2014.

"We want to make sure nobody comes to harm."

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About 16 per cent of the customer base will be affected by the move announced Tuesday.

There was no precise timetable on when the gas lines will be removed, but the company wants all affected customers to switch to another fuel source by Sept. 5.

"I can appreciate that it will be hard on some people, butSaskEnergyis offering an amount of money to help them convert to other heating systems," saidDinu.

"The number of people who will have to leave their property totally will be very, very few because there are a number of alternatives."

While Last Mountain Lake is a resort community,Dinusaid between 60 and 70 per cent of residents of Buena Vista live in the community full time. AfterDinuand the mayor of Regina Beach met withSaskEnergyTuesday morning, Dinu said the utility delayed itspress release long enough for them to alert their own residents first.

He said he thinks they've done their due diligence.

"We've been out there 20 years and they've been out there sniffing for gas for as long and I can remember. I give them credit for their effort."

Ground shifting causing safety issues

According toDinu, the ground has always been shifting in the area. Those who built property on the slope surrounding the lake are sitting on a glacial tilt.

"When I built my house about 15 years ago, the engineer that did thegeotech[survey]said they continually move," Dinu explained.

DaveBurdeniukwithSaskEnergysaid the ground started shifting more dramatically after significant rainfalls late in the spring of 2014.

"In these zones, the ground shiftinghasn't stopped and we're actually seeing it start to accelerate and it's damaging our infrastructure," he explained.

"When we see gas mains move more in two years than we would expect to see in decades, that presents a safety risk for us"

"If that gas main moved six inches or 12 inches, everything attached onto it moves the same six or 12 inches and that starts pulling on things. When that happens you get underground gas leaks."

Burdeniuksaid these leaks mean that gas is moving outside of pipelines underground, which could put people in danger.

"It is something that we know will be difficult for people but we have to put their safety first."

SaskEnergyoffers assistance

If there is a heavy rainfall between now and Labour Day,Burdeniuksaid they may have to give little to no notice before cutting gas off in the area.

Most people will have to convert their furnace to propane and water heater to electricity. According toBurdeniuk, that's what happened for most Regina Beach customers who were cut off two years ago.

Each household will be given a $2,500 allowance to assist them in converting their appliances.

Customers who paid to have their gas lines set up in the last 10 years will also get a portion of their investment back.

Customers looking for more information are urged to call 1-844-465-9722.