WINNIPEG — The entire city of Winnipeg
was under a precautionary boil water advisory Tuesday night after testing
showed the presence of E. coli in the water supply.
was under a precautionary boil water advisory Tuesday night after testing
showed the presence of E. coli in the water supply.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
issued the water advisory just before 5:30 p.m. The advisory was
initially for Winnipeg east of the Red River but city
officials widened it to cover all of Winnipeg just before 6 p.m.
issued the water advisory just before 5:30 p.m. The advisory was
initially for Winnipeg east of the Red River but city
officials widened it to cover all of Winnipeg just before 6 p.m.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are
issuing (a boil water advisory) citywide,” Mayor Brian Bowman told a news
conference Tuesday evening. “Hopefully we will find out that these were
false positives tomorrow and very soon thereafter we will be able to lift
this notice, but we do need to be cautious.”
issuing (a boil water advisory) citywide,” Mayor Brian Bowman told a news
conference Tuesday evening. “Hopefully we will find out that these were
false positives tomorrow and very soon thereafter we will be able to lift
this notice, but we do need to be cautious.”
LIVE BLOG: Winnipeg under boil water advisory
The WRHA says it has communicated the
advisory to all hospital staff.
advisory to all hospital staff.
All residents of Winnipeg are being
advised to bring any water to a boil for at least a minute before using it to
drink, make food or infant formula or brushing teeth.
advised to bring any water to a boil for at least a minute before using it to
drink, make food or infant formula or brushing teeth.
Geoffrey Patton, the acting director
of water and waste for the city, said the boil advisory will remain in
place “until further sampling can prove that the bacteria is not an issue and
was more than likely a sampling error in our procedures.”
of water and waste for the city, said the boil advisory will remain in
place “until further sampling can prove that the bacteria is not an issue and
was more than likely a sampling error in our procedures.”
“We are confident in the safety of the
water and we are re-sampling to prove this out,” he said. “But what we have in
front of us, we have testing samples that show this low level of bacteria
and it’s on the east side and we’ ve seen it on the west side.”
water and we are re-sampling to prove this out,” he said. “But what we have in
front of us, we have testing samples that show this low level of bacteria
and it’s on the east side and we’ ve seen it on the west side.”
Patton said tests showed the presence of
choliform bacteria as well as E. coli.
choliform bacteria as well as E. coli.
Brian O’ Leary, superintendent with the
Seven Oaks School Division, said schools will be open tomorrow despite the
advisory.
Seven Oaks School Division, said schools will be open tomorrow despite the
advisory.
“All schools will be open, parents are
asked to send children to school with bottled or boiled water sufficient for
drinking throughout the day,” said O’Leary.
asked to send children to school with bottled or boiled water sufficient for
drinking throughout the day,” said O’Leary.
Staff at Marion Street Eatery
reacted quickly to hearing there is a boil water advisory.
reacted quickly to hearing there is a boil water advisory.
“We went around to all the tables and told
people to not drink the water,” said Alice Johannesson with the St. Boniface
restaurant.
people to not drink the water,” said Alice Johannesson with the St. Boniface
restaurant.
“We brought in bottled water and bagged
ice,” said Johannesson. “It’s an inconvenience we hope won’t last too long.”
ice,” said Johannesson. “It’s an inconvenience we hope won’t last too long.”
Shelves in most stores were empty an hour
after the advisory was issued as Winnipeggers quickly bought up any water
available. Several people were seen leaving stores with four to five cases in
their carts.
after the advisory was issued as Winnipeggers quickly bought up any water
available. Several people were seen leaving stores with four to five cases in
their carts.
“You take it for granted,” said Doug
Stephen as he left the Shoppers Drug Mart in Osborne Village. “Especially in a
major Canadian city. There’s nothing left inside. It’s concerning.”
Stephen as he left the Shoppers Drug Mart in Osborne Village. “Especially in a
major Canadian city. There’s nothing left inside. It’s concerning.”
In May 2000, seven people died and
thousands became sick in Walkerton, Ont. after E. coli got into the
water system.
thousands became sick in Walkerton, Ont. after E. coli got into the
water system.
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