Additional boil water advisories

On Thursday, June 22, government highlighted that it is reviewing its policies and procedures regarding public water supplies in the province. As a first step, government has undertaken a review of the most recent water sampling data for our water systems.

Also, on Thursday, the Department of Government Services and Lands advised, in line with the review, that it was contacting 27 communities in the Western Region of the province to recommend that boil water advisories be put in place.

Today, Government Services and Lands is contacting an additional 58 communities in other areas of the province (see list below).

Some of these communities have more than one public water supply system and the advisory may not apply to all systems. For example, in Port de Grave, the boil water advisory applies to an estimated three per cent of residents. In Grates Cove, the boil advisory applies to an estimated 90 per cent. Residents should contact community officials to determine if a boil water advisory applies to them. Until this determination is made, residents are advised to boil their water.

It is important to recognize that this action by government is not prompted by any evidence of water-related illnesses. Government is being prudent and responsible where the safety of the public is concerned. If there is indication, for example, that water supplies have no chlorination or other disinfection mechanism in place, the recommendation will be for a boil water advisory to be put in place. This means that communities who have never experienced any ill effects from their water supply in the past will now be asked to boil their water..

Government also wants to ensure that communities with chlorine disinfection systems have levels of disinfection that are appropriate to ensure safe drinking water.

As a general rule, residents in any community placed on a boil advisory should boil their water for five minutes. This should ensure that any illness-causing bacteria are no longer present, and that the water is safe to drink.

Persons who have any questions regarding these boil water advisories can contact Government Services Centres in St John�s (709)729-3097,(709)729-2008, Harbour Grace (709)945-3107, Clarenville (709)466-4060, Gander (709)256-1420, Grand Falls/Windsor (709)292-4206, Corner Brook (709) 637-2204, and Happy Valley/Goose Bay (709)896-2661.

NOTE TO EDITORS: While further boil water advisories may be issued, the vast majority have now been announced.

Note: Some communities have more than one public water supply system and the advisory may not apply to all those systems. For example, in Port de Grave the boil water advisory applies to an estimated three per cent of residents. In Grates Cove, the boil advisory applies to an estimated 90 per cent. Residents should contact community officials to determine if a boil water advisory applies to them. Until this determination is made, residents are advised to boil their water.

Admiral�s Beach
Aquaforte
Avondale
Bell Island
Biscay Bay
Blow Me Down
Bryants Cove
Bunyan�s Cove
Burnt Point
Calvert
Canning�s Cove
Cape Freels
Caplin Cove
Chance Cove
Clarke�s Beach
Coley's Point North
Colliers
Conception Harbour
Dunfield
Eastport
Ferryland
Freshwater, Carbonear
Gaskiers/Point La Haye
Georgetown
Gould's Ridge
Grate�s Cove
Gull Island
Hant�s Harbour
Western Bay

Harbour Grace South
Harbour Main-Chapel�s Cove-Lakeview
Harry�s Harbour
Heart�s Desire
Joe Batt�s Arm
Long Pond, Marysvale
Low Point
Lower Island Cove
Makinsons
Marysvale
Middle Amherst Cove
New Chelsea - Lead Cove
Normans Cove
Northern Bay
Ochre Pit Cove
O�Donnells
Port de Grave
Port Kirwan
Red Head Cove
Renews-Cappahayden
Riverhead, Conception Bay
Riverhead, St Mary�s Bay
St. Joseph�s
Small Point - Broad Cove- Blackhead -Adams Cove
South River
Thickett
Tickle Cove
Trepassey
Upper Amherst Cove