An “internal electrical issue” has put a good chunk of HRM under a boil water advisory.
Halifax Water says roughly 200,000 residents fall under the order for anyone getting their water through the Pockwock treatment facility.
The utility estimates the order will be in place until Wednesday evening, 48 hours from the start of the advisory, according to Jeff Myrick, communications manager for Halifax Water.
Map of areas required to boil water.
The order was issued on Monday evening because of a power outage at the JD Kline Lake Water Treatment Facility (Pockwock), which let a limited amount of untreated water into the system, according to a news release from Halifax Water.
The untreated water is unchlorinated, which means it can have more germs and bacteria, Myrick said.
It would take 48 hours for the untreated water to dissipate in the system and for Halifax Water to test the water, he said.
But the province analyzes the tests to determine if the water is safe again.
“Until we are satisfied and that the province is satisfied with the levels, we will be under a boil water advisor,” said Myrick.”
Myrick said the province could decide the boil order lasts longer, if the tests results aren’t up to provincial standards.
Halifax Water staff are looking at options to potentially flush out the untreated water, the utility wrote in a news release. They are also communicating with the Department of Environment, who oversees Halifax Water, to keep them “up to speed,” said Myrick.
What do to during boil order
People are advised to boil water for one minute any time they are:
- drinking
- preparing infant formula
- making ice cubes or juices
- washing fruits or vegetables
- cooking
- brushing teeth
- any other activity requiring human consumption
- Water for pets
When bathing or showering Halifax Water says to not to swallow any water, and to be extra careful if bathing infants and young children to make sure water does not get swallowed.
The utility says to brush teeth with boiled or bottled water.
It is safe to do laundry and a dishwasher if it is 160 degrees or more.
However, when hand washing, they recommend soaking the dishes in 1 teaspoon of bleach for one minute after washing them regularly.
Back-up power failed
Myrick said power went out at the Pockwock facility for about 30 minutes because of an electrical issue, but it’s unclear what that was.
Typically, when power goes out, the facility would switch to the two generators on site, but that didn’t happen.
“For some reason, the signal that tells the generators to kick in, didn’t kick in.”
Myrick said they test the generators at least once a month.
Halifax Water is investigating both how the power went out and why the generators didn’t start up.
Opposition says alert delay, “unacceptable”
Liberal leader Zach Churchill says the provincial alert system is not fast enough.
The boil water advisory went out on hfxALERT, a new system you have to sign up for, two and a half hours before the provincial alert system.
Churchill says this is not the first time we have seen delays with the emergency alert, and he is worried.
“This is important for seniors that might have health vulnerabilities, you have parents that are putting water in baby formula, people that are drinking water over supper hour, brushing their kids’ teeth, putting them to bed.”
He adds, the Mass Casualty Commission also said the slow emergency alert system was an issue.
Churchill says the province should have showed how their communication has improved, ahead of hurricane season.
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