Discoloured water puts Thunder Bay hospital on alert

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is dealing with a drinkingwater advisory.

Bottled water and juice are being made available to patients and staff. People have also been asked to refrain from consuming any water from taps or faucets.

After discoloured water was seen coming out of taps in that part of the city on Tuesday, city officials notified the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. The Health Unit then issued a precautionary drinking water advisory to the hospital, which will be in effect until laboratory tests confirm the water supply is safe. Officials said health regulations require two sets of samples, and that the final results would be returned on Thursday.

Hospital spokesperson Cathy Covino said announcements are being made hourly, and signs are posted, to ensure no one drinks tap-water until the all-clear is given. She added thatthe advisory does not preclude handwashing or bathing.

Precautionary boil-water advisories also applyto residences and businesses near Oliver Road, between Burwood Drive and Keith Jobbit Drive.

The director of Thunder Bay's Environment Division, Kerri Marshall, said the problem surfaced as a newly-installed water main was being commissioned. She said on-site city crews responded immediately by flushing area watermains to clear away anysediment that might be present.

Marshall told CBC News "Whenever we are making operational changes to the water distribution system...there is a potential for sediment within the water mains to be suspended and cause discolouration."

A press release from the citystates that if discoloured water is present in ones home, run the cold water tap for five minutes or until the line clears. If the lines do not clear, or if there are other concerns, phone the citys infrastructure and operations dispatch at 625-2195.