Whale Cove, Nunavut, still under boil water advisory
Residents of Whale Cove, Nunavut, are still being advised to boil their water six weeks after the advisory was first issued.
The territory's health department says the precautionary measure is due to unacceptable levels of total coliform bacteria in the community's water system.
Coliform are a common form of bacteria used to indicate whether a water supply "may be vulnerable to contamination by more harmful microorganisms," according to this fact sheet from New Brunswick's health department.
The Nunavut Department of Health says that it and the Department of Community Services have been investigating the issue over the past month and a half and that tests are being done.
Water should be brought to a rolling boil for a minimum of a full minute before it is used for:
- drinking
- preparing infant formulas
- preparing juices and ice cubes
- washing fruits and vegetables
- cooking
- brushing teeth
