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Boil Water Advisory Issued for City of Nanaimo

Comes into effect at 11:59 PM Tuesday November 17

Summary

Effective 11:59 PM November 17, residents of Nanaimo are advised that the City of Nanaimo has issued a Boil Water Advisory for the users of the City drinking water system. Recent heavy rainfalls have resulted in increased turbidity in Nanaimo’s water supply. As a precaution, water users should boil their drinking water for one minute at a rolling boil. The public will be informed as soon as the turbidity issues are resolved and the advisory is lifted.

For more information, please refer to the City of Nanaimo’s web page (www.nanaimo.ca), listen to the Wave radio at 102.3 FM or follow the City's Twitter account. In addition, to assist residents in receiving this advisory, the City has activated its Emergency Call Alert System - a notification service that sends information to self-registered residents.

Link to Strategic Plan: Taking responsibility to be an excellent municipal government.

Key Points Users of the City's water system are advised to boil the water for one minute and let it cool before drinking.

The City has experienced elevated levels of turbidity at the source of its drinking water system due to heavy rains in the South Fork watershed.

We expect turbid water to enter the distribution system after midnight and into Wednesday morning. Residents may notice tap water is discoloured.

Water Supply Operations have ensured that its disinfection equipment is effectively disinfecting water throughout the system.

Quotes "In consultation with Island Health, we are issuing this Boil Water Advisory to all users of the water system within the City of Nanaimo, starting 11:59PM Tuesday November 17. Once the system has cleared up and the Boil Water Advisory has been lifted, we will advise users. The City will continue to monitor and seek to lift the boil advisory as soon as possible." Bill Sims Manager, Water Resources City of Nanaimo

Quick Facts Turbidity is measured continuously at South Fork Dam, and as the water enters the system. The City anticipates that turbidity will climb above 1 NTU in the early morning hours of November 18.

Water from the watershed takes several hours to reach the first customers.

The City’s Waterworks Operating Permit requires the City to notify the Drinking Water Officer when turbidity exceeds 1 NTU at the point of chlorination.

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