After 10 days of a boil water advisory in Yellowknife, some residents have given up.
A Moose FM poll suggests only two-thirds of our listeners are continuing to boil their water in accordance with the City of Yellowknife’s advice.
Around a quarter of listeners who responded say they have entirely abandoned boiling their water as the advisory drags on. Another 12 percent are only boiling their water ‘sometimes’.
The city says the advisory is a necessary precaution as water turbidity – the level of particles suspended in the water – remains high.
All tap water used for drinking, or preparing food, should be boiled for one minute first.
Read: Treatment plant should end boil water advisories, says mayor
But some residents no longer see the need to heed that advice.
“It’s only spring run-off, it’s not bacteria,” Michelle Gillis wrote on Moose FM’s Facebook page. “It happens everywhere, every spring.”
“Totally agree with Michelle,” added Kelly Iris Ettagiak. “It’s what I keep telling people. No bacteria. Just run-off.”
Not everyone is prepared to follow that lead.
“I think it’s progressively getting worse,” said Dezerae Pidborochynski. “I ran a bath and didn’t want to bathe in it, the water is getting murkier every day. I boil it and then filter it through a Brita.”
“I’m cooking with water straight from the tap, but drinking bottled,” said Danica Patterson.
The city’s last update came on Wednesday afternoon, saying “there is no improvement to report” and reaffirming that the advisory remains in place.
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