Cape Breton Regional Municipality has issued a boil advisory for the New Waterford water system.

The advisory includes the communities of New Waterford, Scotchtown, River Ryan, New Victoria and Lingan.

"Water customers are advised to boil all water for at least one minute before drinking or any other activity that will result in consumption of the water. This includes drinking, preparing infant formula, juices and ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables and dental hygiene," the water utility said.

The boil advisory is being issued as a precautionary measure resulting from one water sample which indicated quality concerns, water operations manager Greg Penney said.

"The regulations are very clear with respect to how we would lift the advisory, " he said.

The advisory will remain in effect until the utility gets two clear samples at the same location over a two-day period which means the earliest lifting of the advisory would be Monday morning.