by EVAN MATTHEWS
McBride’s Boil Water Advisory has been lifted as of April 8th.
Northern Health confirmed the advisory to be a precautionary measure, saying it was related to the BKB Cedar Mill Fire. Connections between some of the hoses and the water source being used by fire crews created conditions with the potential for water contamination.
The Provincial Water Lab reports all four water samples collected on April 6th from the McBride community water system are satisfactory. The Village says Coliform and E. coli counts were not detected.
This satisfies the condition that the Boil Water Notice be lifted.
A notice posted April 6th to the Village website says the advisory comes in consultation with Northern Health under the Drinking Protection Act.
“This Boil Water Notice applies to all users of the Village of McBride water supply system and should be followed by all persons using water from this system,” the advisory reads.
People should use boiled water for drinking purposes, food preparation, coffee machines, brushing teeth, infant formulas, making ice, and washing fruits and vegetables
The statement reads “there is, was, or may be a threat to the drinking water,” but The Goat could not reach the Mayor, Village, or Northern Health staff by the time this article was published to find out what, if anything, had contaminated the water, or if the threat could be related to infrastructure.
The public should boil tap water for a minimum of one-minute before consuming, according to Northern Health, or the use of bottled water for the duration of the advisory.
Businesses should now have signs by any sinks or drinking fountains accessible to the public, according to the Village’s statement, and if the opportunity presents itself — advise any person who may potentially use the water.
The advisory will remain in effect until another public notice is issued, according to the Village’s statement.
“A Boil Water Notice is one of three types of public notices commonly used by Drinking Water Officers. The decision whether to request or order issuance of one of these notices rests with the discretion of a drinking Water Officer, but in general, they are used when the public health threat posed by the water supply system is significant and the nature of the threat is one that can be effectively addressed through boiling of the water,” the statement reads.
People should use boiled water for drinking purposes, food preparation, coffee machines, brushing teeth, infant formulas, making ice, and washing fruits and vegetables.
