The boil water advisory for the portion of the system west of Highway 5 has been lifted. Residents can safely use the municipal water supply.The precautionary boil water advisory was issued by the Municipality on Wednesday, December 21, due to an equipment problem.
Actions to be taken when the boil advisory is lifted:
- Run water from all faucets with cold water for a few minutes. Follow the same procedure for drinking fountains and troughs, if applicable.
- Empty, wash and disinfect ice machines.
- Drain outdoor faucets.
- If you have a water treatment device, check with the manufacturer to determine what steps to take.
Why have boil water advisories been more frequent in the past year?
The Municipality is currently investigating the exact cause. It could be caused by the low level of the Gatineau River which causes an increase in turbidity and forces us to clean and replace our equipment more frequently.
The Municipality has proceeded to purchase additional equipment to address, in part, the problem. However, it continues to investigate in order to solve the problem.
Do I need to worry about my health?
The Municipality takes the situation of the last year seriously. However, there is no danger to the health of residents. The problem is caused by turbidity in the water that blocks the equipment needed to produce water. This causes a significant drop in water production and pressure, which also triggers a boil water advisory as a preventive measure in accordance with the Act. Preventive boil water advisories are therefore issued because of an equipment problem. Please be advised that our team is working around the clock to resolve this issue and some of the equipment will be replaced tonight.
