Public Health has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for residents living in the area of Brigadoon Drive on the west mountain.

Affected residents include those living on Brigadoon Drive from Apple Blossom Drive to Glenview Place, Matthew Street, Nature Court, Gledhill Crescent, Galt Street, Glenview Place and Graywood Road. The area encompasses about 260 homes.

Hamilton Water is phoning residents and distributing yellow Boil Water Advisory notices door-to-door to homes in this area.

Public Health issued the warning Wednesday after a sample from a fire hydrant on Brigadoon Drive near Nature Court taken Monday tested positive for bacterial contamination.

Officials say the advisory is a precautionary measure until the city can conduct further tests over the next two days.

Public health said if the followup tests are free of bacteria, the boil water advisory will be lifted as early as Friday afternoon.

"We want to caution people that although there have not been any reports of illness, residents who receive the Boil Water Advisory need to boil their water for one full minute before drinking or using it for activities when water could be swallowed," said Dr. Jessica Hopkins, an associate medical officer of health for Hamilton Public Health Services.

"The elderly, the very young, and those with weakened immune systems have the most potential risk, but we are asking everyone to be careful until we are satisfied that the advisory can be lifted."

For information, call the city at 905-546-2489 or go to hamilton.ca.