The Chief Environmental Health Officer is advising all residents of Hay River, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, Enterprise and Kakisa to boil their drinking water for at least one minute before use.
This is a precautionary advisory due to turbidity or muddy water, and no illnesses associated with drinking water have been reported in the community.
“There’s turbidity in the water as a result of the spring break up, it has happened before in the past,” said Peter Workman, Chief Environmental Officer with the Department of Health.
“The quarry may not be able to disinfect the water as a result of the turbidity, or the particles, in the water,” said Workman.
“Turbidity basically is sediment or dirt from the river, it’s essentially particles of organic matter. It periodically results when the spring ice break up happens, it just stirs things up and it’s like cloudiness or haziness in the water,” Workman said.
During this advisory, water used for drinking, preparing food, hot and cold beverages and ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables, and dental hygiene must be boiled. This is of particular importance in the case of the preparation of infant formulas. Do not drink water from public drinking fountains. It is not necessary to boil water used for other household purposes. You may shower, bathe or wash using tap water, but avoid swallowing the water.
The Chief Environmental Health Officer, in collaboration with the Town of Hay River, will continue to monitor the situation and provide an update when the advisory is lifted.
For more information visit the Boil Water Advisory Information page.
