Halifax Under Boil Water Advisory After Treatment Plant Issue
Residents in Halifax and many surrounding communities are being told to boil their water before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or any other activity that involves consuming the water. This boil water advisory was put into effect on Tuesday morning after an electrical problem at a water treatment facility.
The issue occurred late Monday evening at the JD Kline Water Treatment Facility in Pockwock. The electrical failure caused a small amount of untreated water to enter the clean water supply. Halifax Water, the utility company responsible for the region’s water, says the amount of untreated water was limited, but they are taking precautions to ensure the safety of the public.
“We understand this is an inconvenience, but our top priority is the safety of our residents,” said Ellen Myrick, spokesperson for Halifax Water. “Boiling the water for one minute before using it will kill any harmful bacteria that may be present.”
The boil water advisory is impacting a large area, including the city of Halifax itself, as well as Beaver Bank, Middle and Lower Sackville, Hammonds Plains, Bedford, Timberlea, Spryfield, and Herring Cove. Halifax Water estimates that roughly 210,000 residents and 70,000 water customers are affected.
Crews are working to flush the untreated water out of the system and to restore normal operations. This process is expected to take at least 48 hours. Halifax Water is testing the water quality every hour and will lift the boil water advisory as soon as it is safe to do so.
In the meantime, residents are advised to bring their tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice cubes or juices, washing fruits or vegetables, or brushing their teeth. Boiling water for one minute will kill any harmful bacteria that may be present.
For those who cannot boil their water, Halifax Water recommends using bottled water. Bottled water should be used for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
While showering and bathing are still permitted during the boil water advisory, residents are advised to avoid swallowing any water. For washing dishes, Halifax Water recommends using a dishwasher that reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit or using a sanitizing cycle. If washing dishes by hand, residents should wash and rinse with hot water as usual, then soak the rinsed dishes for at least one minute in a solution of one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of warm water. Dishes should then be air dried.
Laundry is not affected by the boil water advisory and can be washed as usual.
Halifax Water is providing updates on the situation through their website, social media channels, and a dedicated phone line. Residents can also sign up for alerts from Halifax Water to receive updates directly.