By Times Colonist, originally posted on October 8, 2016

A boil-water notice has been issued for Chemainus.

Residents are urged to boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth.

It is safe to wash clothes and bathe in the water without boiling it, said the Municipality of North Cowichan. The notice was issued Saturday in consultation with Island Health.

The advisory is in effect throughout the long weekend. An update will be issued on Tuesday.

The notice is a precautionary measure because of higher turbidity or cloudiness in the water.

According to Island Health, turbidity can be the result of clay, silt, organic matter, plankton and micro-organisms. “High turbidity can interfere with the disinfection of drinking water and be a source of disease-causing micro-organisms.”