BOIL WATER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL OTHERWISE NOTIFIED **Please see bottom of post for Important Island Health Provided Information**
August 11, 2021
September 02, 2021 **The Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect**
With guidance from Island Health, our Public Health Officer, our engineers and water quality experts, the Town’s Public Works continues to seek out the source of contamination for our drinking water system. Despite troubleshooting potential areas, recent tests along Beach Drive are still producing trace amounts of E.coli and Total Coliforms.
Island Health and the Town of Port McNeill want to reiterate the importance of this notice and we encourage users to be diligent and continue to boil your water or find alternate safe sources of water for consumption.
Further, the Town will be following the recommendations of our Health Officer, and in hopes of eliminating residual contamination within the system, a low dose disinfection of the entire drinking water system, using chlorine, will be started the week of September 7-10. The Town will notify all residents through our Town website, social media and mailbox drop with the exact dates that this will happen, so for users with fish tanks or medical equipment that can be effected by chlorine can make alternate arrangements.
The Boil Water Advisory, originally implemented on August 11, 2021 will remain in effect until otherwise notified.
Public Works Manager Julian Allen explains the process in which the Town is engaged in to rectify the situation at minute 4:53 of the August 24 Council meeting, which can be viewed here: YouTube Clip
**Update August 18, 2021** 5:00PM
The Boil Water Notice remains in effect. Results from the latest set of samples showed low levels of Total Coliforms at the Harbour. Island Health must have 2 consecutive clear samples in order to remove the Boil Water Notice, as per Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines. Public Works continues to work to identify a source of contamination and will continue to provide daily samples for testing. Continue to look here for updates.
**Update August 14, 2021**

All samples taken on August 13, 2021 came back clear, no signs of bacteria. Two clear sets of samples in a row are needed to lift the Boil Water Notice.

All of Port McNeill remains on a boil water advisory.

Further samples will be required on Monday, August 16, 2021 with results anticipated in the afternoon of Tuesday August 17, 2021.

**Update August 13, 2021**

All samples taken on August 12, 2021 came back clear, except for the Broughton Strait Campground which still showed signs of Total Coliforms, but no e-coli.

All of Port McNeill remains on a boil water advisory.

Further samples will be required on Monday, August 16, 2021 with results anticipated in the afternoon of Tuesday August 17, 2021

The Port McNeill Water System has issued an advisory due to trace amounts of e-coli detected during routine testing.

Boil water before using it for drinking, making ice, cooking, washing food or brushing teeth. Use hand sanitizer after washing hands.

Until notified all users are advised to:

  1. Bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute, or
  2. Use an alternate, safe source of water

For more information please contact the Town Office at 250-956-3111

August 11, 2021

This Boil Water Notice will stay in effect until the Town and Island Health are satisfied that the water is safe to consume.

The Town is continuing to sample on a daily basis. Results of these tests will be made public as soon as the Town receives them.

Historic Sampling Results can be seen here: Water Sample Results

BOIL WATER NOTICE
How to Disinfect Water
FAQ for Food Establishments
What to do During a Boil Water Notice
Bleach as a Disinfection