Wheatley water treatment plant offline after suffering 'significant damage' in fire

A boil water advisory has been issued for those on the Chatham-Kent Municipal Water Distribution Systems for Wheatley and Tilbury following a fire at a water treatment plant on Wednesday.

"Ithas been found that the site has undergone significant damage and as a result the Wheatley Water Treatment Plant is not operational at this time," the municipality said in a media release Wednesday night.

The acting medical officer of health is telling residents to bring water to a roiling boil for at least a minute before using it to drink or brush teeth with.

The municipality initiallysaid on Wednesday afternoon that the water was safe to drink. Later, in an advisory issued after 8 p.m., the boil water notice was issued, citinga loss of water pressure.

According to the municipality, at about 1:30 p.m., ablaze broke out in the generator room at the water treatment plant in Wheatley and was quickly extinguished.Chatham-Kent Fire says no one was injured.

Officials are askingpeople in Wheatley and Tilburyto temporarily conserve water, along withthose inBlenheim, Merlin, Coatsworth, Shrewsbury, Rondeau and Erieau.

Chatham-Kent public health says the boil water advisory applies to consumers of theChatham-Kent Municipal Water Distribution Systems for Wheatley and Tilbury, including the list below.

• Mint Waterline Association
• D&O Waterline Association
• 3rd Concession Waterline Association
• 3rd & 4th Concession Waterline Association
• KOA Waterline Association
• Cedar Inn Water Line Association
• Richardson Sideroad Waterline Association
• Tecumseh Waterline Association
• Tilbury Townline Waterline Association
• Leamington (Wheatley DS)