Boil water order covering Halifax and some nearby communities to last at least 24-48 hours

CBC

July 1, 2024 at 6:07 p.m.·1 min read

A boil water order covering the entire Halifax peninsula, Bedford, Spryfield, Timberlea, Hammonds Plains, Beaver Bank and parts of Middle and Lower Sackville is expected to persist for at least 24 to 48 hours, says Halifax Water.

The utility is recommending people boil their water for at least one minute if they are consuming it or using it for food preparation.

Halifax Water says filtering water will not suffice, and water should be boiled under the following circumstances:

Drinking.
Preparing infant formula.
Making ice cubes or juices.
Washing fruits or vegetables.
Cooking.
Brushing teeth; or
Any other activity requiring human consumption.

Residents can find out if their address is under a boil water order by using this interactive map.

What went wrong

Jeff Myrick, communications manager for the utility, said a power outage at the JD Kline (Pockwock) Lake Water Treatment Facility allowed some unchlorinated water to enter the system.

"Most water is chlorinated as its treated, unfortunately because of this power bump, it caused the chlorinator to leave the water untreated for a period of time," he said Monday evening.

Myrick said the utility is investigating why its backup power system didn't kick in to allow continued chlorination.

The Pockwock facility, located in Upper Hammonds Plains, services 201,000 people in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Myrick said the advisory will not be lifted until the issue has been resolved.

"We're tracking the course of where this is going, so we can actually add it to treated water, or flush it out of the system all together," he said. "I expect it will take at least 24 to 48 hours."

Dartmouth residents get water from a different water treatment facility, and are not affected by the boil order.

MORE TOP STORIES

USA TODAY
See damage left by Hurricane Beryl in Barbados as it sustains Category 5 status
Hurricane Beryl has continued to grow in intensity, becoming a Category 5 hurricane on Monday night.
The Canadian Press
Beryl heads toward Jamaica as a major hurricane after ripping through southeast Caribbean
ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada (AP) — Hurricane Beryl roared through open waters Tuesday as a powerful Category 4 storm heading toward Jamaica after earlier crossing islands in the southeast Caribbean, killing at least six people.
CNN
As it gets hotter, 13,000 families in this pocket of America live without electricity
As global temperatures keep rising, the rush to fully electrify one of the poorest regions in the United States is more urgent than ever.
The Weather Network
Thunderstorm, heavy rain risk bubbles up in Ontario. Forecast details, here
A passing cold front will be the trigger for thunderstorms with heavy rain to develop across much of Ontario on Wednesday
The Canadian Press
Hurricane Beryl grows to Category 5 strength as it razes southeast Caribbean islands
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) — Hurricane Beryl strengthened to Category 5 status late Monday after it ripped doors, windows and roofs off homes across the southeastern Caribbean with devastating winds and storm surge fueled by the Atlantic's record warmth.
The Canadian Press
Hurricane Beryl roars by Jamaica after killing at least 6 people in the southeast Caribbean
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Hurricane Beryl was roaring by Jamaica Wednesday, bringing fierce winds and heavy rain after the powerful Category 4 storm earlier killed at least six people and caused significant damage in the southeast Caribbean.
The Canadian Press
Calgary lifts indoor water restrictions, outdoor ban remains after water main break
CALGARY — Calgary’s month-long water conservation crisis is one big step closer to being over, as the mayor announced Tuesday that residents are no longer being asked to restrict their indoor water use.
The Canadian Press
Massive makos, Queen Bosses and a baby angel shark on Discovery 'Shark Week,' where women shine
NEW YORK (AP) — Imagine stepping into a life-sized whale carcass decoy and steering it into deep water. You're looking — yes, looking — for a group of hungry sharks to spark a feeding frenzy. To attract them, you shoot out hundreds of gallons of synthetic blood and chum. Then watch them lose it.
The Canadian Press
To save spotted owls, US officials plan to kill hundreds of thousands of another owl species
To save the imperiled spotted owl from potential extinction, U.S. wildlife officials are embracing a contentious plan to deploy trained shooters into dense West Coast forests to kill almost a half-million barred owls that are crowding out their cousins.
The Weather Network - Video
Hurricane Beryl closing in on Jamaica, track its next move here
A powerful and dangerous Hurricane Beryl is churning the Caribbean Sea. Get the latest tropical forecast with meteorologist Tyler Hamilton.
CBC
Many popular heat pump models recalled due to overheating risk
Several major brands have recalled certain heat pump models in Canada because they can switch from air conditioning to heating mode following a power interruption.The recall affects Daikin, Amana and Goodman brands.The recall doesn't affect heat pumps installed for free through a P.E.I. government program for low-income homeowners, according to the province's Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action.'While the provincial free heat pump program does install some Daikin units, the reca
Miami Herald
Jamaica braces for Hurricane Beryl, slightly weaker but still a dangerous Cat 4 storm
Hurricane Beryl could bring up to 8 feet of storm surge in Jamaica.
The Canadian Press
GM will pay $146 million in penalties because 5.9 million older vehicles emit excess carbon dioxide
WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors will pay nearly $146 million in penalties to the federal government because 5.9 million of its older vehicles do not comply with emissions and fuel economy standards.
USA TODAY
Hurricane Beryl, now Cat 4, targets Jamaica with ferocious winds: Live updates
Beryl weakened slightly into a Category 4 storm Tuesday from the monster Category 5 hurricane it became overnight.
Reuters Videos
Beryl causes 'massive destruction' in St. Vincent, Grenadines
STORY: :: Hurricane Beryl causes 'massive destruction' in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Prime Minister says:: July 1, 2024:: Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines :: Ralph Gonsalves via Facebook:: CSU/CIRA & NOAA:: European Union Copernicus Sentinel-2 Imagery / Pierre Markuse:: Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister, St. Vincent and the Grenadines:: "Hurricane Beryl, dangerous, devastating, hurricane has come and gone and it has left in its wake immense destruction. Pain, suffering across our nation at this hour.:: "Union Island has been devastated. The reports that I have received indicate that 90% of the houses have been severely damaged or destroyed.":: "And sadly, it has been reported, we do not yet know all the details, that one person died and there may well be more fatalities. We are not yet sure." Hurricane Beryl strengthened on Monday into a "potentially catastrophic" category 5 storm as it moved across the eastern Caribbean, putting Jamaica near its path after downing power lines and flooding streets elsewhere.Beryl brings an unusually fierce and early start to this year's Atlantic hurricane season, with scientists saying climate change probably contributed to the rapid pace of its formation as global warming has boosted North Atlantic temperatures.
The Canadian Press
Biden proposes new rule to protect 36 million workers from extreme heat
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday proposed a new rule to address excessive heat in the workplace, warning — as tens of millions of people in the U.S. are under heat advisories — that high temperatures are the country's leading weather-related killer.
Canadian Press Videos
Rescued lion cub Freya safe in South Africa, but many others bred to be shot
Freya, a six-month-old lion cub rescued from the wildlife trade in Lebanon, poked a curious nose out of her transport crate and sniffed the air. Satisfied, she took her first cautious steps in her new forever home in a sanctuary in South Africa.
Bloomberg
China’s Plastics Boom Is Set to Create Another Trade Headache
(Bloomberg) -- A surge of Chinese plastic supply is threatening to overflow in the face of weak domestic demand, morphing into a fresh trade challenge for the rest of the world.Most Read from BloombergDemocrats Weigh Mid-July Vote to Formally Tap Biden as NomineeTrump Immunity Ruling Means Any Trial Before Election UnlikelyBeryl Becomes Earliest Ever Category 5 Hurricane in Atlantic‘Upflation’ Is the Latest Retail Trend Driving Up Prices for US ConsumersTrump Seeks to Toss NY Felony Conviction A
USA TODAY
Watch this woman conquer her lifelong fear of sharks...by swimming with them!
Watch this teacher take a frightening dip in the ocean to overcome her fear of sharks.
The Weather Network
Beryl pushes onto Windward Islands with catastrophic winds, storm surge
Beryl, a high-end Category 4 hurricane, continues to produce catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surge on the Grenadine Islands, Carriacou Island and Grenada.

Latest Stories