Halifax

Halifax Water lifts boil advisory for 200,000 Haligonians

Halifax Water has officially lifted the boil-water advisory that was issued for approximately 200,000 residents across the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). The advisory, which affected residents serviced by the Pockwock water treatment facility, covered a wide area including peninsular Halifax, Bedford, Sackville, Timberlea, Spryfield, Fall River, Waverley, and more. The advisory was put in place on Tuesday, Jan 21, following a power outage at the Pockwock Lake facility.

The unexpected closure of businesses and daycares, as well as the postponement of surgeries at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, caused disruptions in the community. At one point, the IWK Hospital even ran out of bottled water for patients. The power outage at the Pockwock facility resulted in water passing through the system without undergoing chlorine treatment, which is essential for killing bacteria and pathogens in the water.

Halifax Water spokesperson Brittany Smith explained that the power failure was a result of a blown fuse during a planned outage while the facility was running on generators. Fortunately, all drinking water samples have now met the necessary requirements set by Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change and the Medical Officer of Health, leading to the lifting of the advisory.

In response to the incident, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board has called for an investigation into how the power failure occurred without safeguards in place. Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore has also requested an investigation and is advocating for a new emergency alert system protocol for the HRM. This week’s boil-water advisory marked the second time in seven months that residents in the same area were affected by such an advisory.

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Premier Tim Houston expressed his disappointment with the situation, calling it a “complete embarrassment.” He is exploring options to potentially recoup any financial losses incurred by Halifax Water due to the advisory. The community is now relieved that the advisory has been lifted, and steps are being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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