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.

"It has 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 initially said 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, citing a loss of water pressure.

According to the municipality, at about 1:30 p.m., a blaze 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 asking people in Wheatley and Tilbury to temporarily conserve water, along with those in Blenheim, Merlin, Coatsworth, Shrewsbury, Rondeau and Erieau.

Chatham-Kent public health says the boil water advisory applies to consumers of the Chatham-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)