Approximately 45,000 Saint Johners are under a boil water order and we’re likely going to be into early next week before the order could be lifted.
The order, issued this afternoon by the City of Saint John, affects all users east of Reversing Falls as illustrated by this map below.
The boil water order was issued after increases in turbidity, or cloudiness, in the water treatement plant at Latimer Lake caused by high winds and rain.
“Once it gets above certain numbers that are outside the normal operating range then we can’t ensure the effectiveness of the drinking water treatment system,” says Saint John Water commissioner Brent McGovern, “and for that reason a boil water order has to be issued to protect public health.”
Saint John Water is going to be monitoring the turbidity to make sure it gets back to normal and once they get to that point, they will be collecting two sets of samples a minimum of 24 hours apart. If the samples come back clear, they will talk with the medical officer of health and once they are given the green light they can lift the order.
The Safe Clean Drinking Water project is underway and is expected to be online in about a year’s time. McGovern says once the new water treatment plan is operational, events like this wouldn’t result in a boil water order.
“So, we would have the proper treatment in place to protect us from high turbidity increases in our lakewater,” he says.
Everyone living in areas impacted by the boil water order should not drink the water without boiling it first. Bring water to a rolling boil, let it boil for at least one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water.
Any water used for drinking, brushing teeth, making ice, juice, coffee, tea or washing vegetables should be boiled first or you should be using bottled water.
Saint John Water will inform everyone when it’s safe to drink the water again.
