Once water is flowing through your taps following the major water main break in Mountjoy Twp., it will be a couple days at least until the water is deemed safe for use.
A boil water advisory is in effect to prevent sickness.
Northeastern Public Health program coordinator Kaitlin McCaw explains what that means.
“Boil your water for a full minute, so making sure it’s that rolling boil,” she says. “Often electric kettles will not boil it for that long, so just keep that in mind.”
You can also use an alternative clean water source, such as bottled water or the water you’ve been able to pick up in your containers at the Archie Dillon Sportsplex.
Before the advisory is lifted, there must be two sets of samples that test clean, 24 to 48 hours apart. That could take this well into the weekend.
McCaw says there are also precautions to take surrounding bathing and showering.
“So if you’re an adult or you have older children, they can still shower or bathe, just because they’re less likely to ingest water while doing so. Younger children and infants, sponge bath with either an alternative water source or boiled water that’s been cooled.”
The health unit has a safe water web page and a section on boil water advisories at neph.ca.
