Turbidity issues puts Prince Rupert residents back under a Water Advisory

The last forty eight hours of heavy precipitation has given cause for the City of Prince Rupert od issue a new Water Advisory for the community, providing the background and details to the measures shortly before 4:55 this afternoon

Please note that due to high turbidity levels detected in the drinking water supply relating to the heavy rain event we just experienced, a Water Quality Advisory has been issued for City of Prince Rupert. Northern Health recommends that children, pregnant women, the elderly and persons with weakened immune systems drink boiled water at this time. 

 A Water Quality Advisory is a precautionary measure issued to residents considered most ‘at risk’. It indicates a level of risk associated with consuming the drinking water, but the conditions do not warrant a boil water notice or do-not-use water notice. 

It is the lowest level notification, and is issued as a precautionary measure, particularly to those with compromised immune systems that they should take appropriate steps, such as boiling their water prior to consuming.

The full advisory with specific notes for residents who may be the most impacted by the situation  can be reviewed here. 

The advisory provides additional notes on the city's current and future water delivery plans.

The City also relayed its advisory through their mobile app program and Social Media, with the latter making for a forum of sorts for residents on the latest situation.

The City had seen three months pass by since they had removed the previous water advisory, which was lifted in November.

The full list of the 2021 advisories can be reviewed here, while years previous are listed in our Infrastructure Archive history. 

Prince Rupert residents have faced those off and on Water Advisories for much of the last two to three years as work began on the city's water infrastructure replacement program and the water supply shifted to a water supply drawn from Shawatlans Lake. 

The City's Operations Director Richard Pucci outlined the challenges of the water dam project in late December,  last month he noted  that the city hopes  to return to the Woodworth supply in April.

The City notes that it will advise residents as as the water quality issues are resolved.