Boil water advisory in Timmins is over, officials say

SUDBURY -- The boil water advisory announced Monday in Timmins is over, officials said Wednesday afternoon.

"The City of Timmins has conducted all the required water samples in the past 48 hours," the city said in a news release. "The results are deemed satisfactory by the City of Timmins and the Porcupine Health Unit, and all the necessary requirements have been met to lift the Boil Water Advisory issued on Monday."

Update No. 1

A "chemical process upset" is behind the boil water advisory in Timmins, the city said in a follow-up news release Monday.

“What happened was that we had a chemical process upset that occurred yesterday,” said Scott Tam, manager of environmental services and public utilities. “As Timmins water filtration plant staff were getting the process back online, we were utilizing the water storages in our reservoirs."

During water production and the use of the reservoirs, water pressure was reduced, the city said, and therefore it was decided to implement the boil water advisory as a precaution to limit the potential risk to the drinking water system.

Tam said the Schumacher area was the most impacted in terms of pressure, but the advisory was extended to Porcupine and South Porcupine as an additional precaution.

The advisory affects residents of Schumacher, those in the area east of Highway 655 along Algonquin Boulevard, Vipond Road, and Gold Mine Road. Residents affected are required to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute prior to use or use bottles water.

Water production and pressures have been restored, but the boil water advisory will remain in effect until the city has drinking water results in two consecutive sets of samples taken 24 to 48 hours apart or as otherwise directed by the medical officer of health.

"We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience," the city said.

For more information regarding boil water advisories, click here.

Original story:

The advisory affects residents of Porcupine, South Porcupine, and those in the Schumacher area east of Highway 655 along Algonquin Boulevard, Vipond Road, and Gold Mine Road.

"Residents affected are required to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute prior to use or use bottled water," the health unit said.

A boil water advisory is issued when harmful germs (e.g., E.coli bacteria, giardia parasite) may be in a drinking water supply. Drinking water contaminated with these germs can make people and animals very sick, but boiling the water will kill the germs and make it safe to drink.

The health unit advises using tap water for washing clothes, taking showers (adults and older children), shaving and flushing toilets.

Use boiled water for drinking, brushing teeth, handwashing, washing dishes, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing food and baby formula, making ice, coffee makers, sponge bath babies and young children (after water cools) and giving water to pets.

More information on boil water advisories can be found here.