An area man is giving huge thanks to a couple of area contractors and friends for helping to get water flowing back to his home on Rainy Lake.
Clint Papineau say the home’s water pump, which is located deep in the lake, completely froze New Year’s Eve.
He says running water returned Wednesday, but not without the support and dedication of several friends, M.L. Caron Electric and Pro-R Plumbing.
“You know we are very blessed poeple to have such good friends and such good contractors in the community that are willing to give up their time to help folks like us, so I thought it was important to say thanks.”
Papineau says friends and neighbours, Pete Winik, Richard Levesque, Mitch Myhchuk and Kenny Wilson also came over to help cut holes in the ice and locate the pump, but were unable to retrieve it from the icy waters.
A diving suit was also offered by Shane Armstrong but Papineau couldn’t find a diver.
In the end, a new pump had to be installed with the workers dealing with the sub zero temperatures to get the job done Wednesday when the water started to flow once again.
“I am truly fortunate to have the friends that I do, the four people that were there and refused to leave, as well as M.L. Caron Electric and Pro-R Plumbing, Riley Caul, went above and beyond.”
Papineau says the original pump will remain in the water until the spring thaw when he will then get it fixed.