The City of Merritt says its three phase return home plan is progressing about as expected.

Speaking on NL Newsday, Information Officer Greg Lowis said City staff were expecting there to be some issues along the way, as about 1,500 people were cleared to return home on Tuesday this week.

“We had a couple of water breaks when things started running again so there was a brief period of time where people near Main St. lost water, but that has not been restored,” he said.

Lowis says the City still expects to release more details today about when more people will be able to head back to Merritt.

“We will have an announcement about when more people, particularly in the Phase 2 area will be able to return home,” he added. “Of course, we are doing everything to make sure that happens as fast and as safely as possible.”

It is not clear when more people will be able to go back home, though it won’t be today. However, when they are, it will mean that all Merritt residents north of Nicola Ave. will be allowed back home after they were evacuated on Nov. 15.

“The Phase 2 area was not affected by flood inundation,” a City of Merritt release said. “Prior to lifting the evacuation order for this area, additional water flushing and testing will be conducted while the Kengard well fills the Grimmett reservoir.

“This increased reservoir supply will support increased fire flows and allow for the Phase 2 area to return home.”

A boil water advisory still remains in effect across the City of Merritt, and residents are still asked to conserve water.

Earlier this week, Merritt mayor, Linda Brown, told residents that they would be returning home to ‘a city that has changed.’

Interior Health said the Nicola Valley Hospital is set to reopen on Monday, Nov. 29, while BC Hydro noted there was “no significant damage” to its infrastructure in Merritt.

The City of Merritt also said Wednesday its wastewater treatment plant is back up and running.

“Things have proceeded exactly as expected and in some respects they’ve gone better, and in some respects I think that there has been challenges but we’re really pleased with the process as it has been playing out,” Merritt Chief Administrative Officer, Sean Smith said.

“I think we are right on track with the plan that we’ve been discussing.”