PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY – Residents of Bloomfield and Picton can safely drink tap water after Hastings and Prince Edward Health Unit lifted a boil-water advisory Thursday morning.
The municipality’s Emergency Control Group met with local media shortly after noon at Shire Hall, announcing the Picton/Bloomfield drinking water plant had passed all tests, allowing the Hastings and Prince Edward Health unit to lift the advisory.
The Picton drinking water plant resumed normal operations and was reconnected to the Picton/Bloomfield water distribution system (Wednesday) evening,” he said.
Quaiff said despite the end of the boil-water advisory, the municipality will remain in a state of emergency until likely early next week to ensure no threat remains.
“Although the Health Unit has lifted the Boil Water Advisory, the County will remain in its state of emergency until such time as we are confident that contamination in Picton Bay no longer poses a threat to the drinking water system,” he explained.
“(Barge operators) McKeil Marine has retained Pinchin Limited, one of Canada’s largest environmental, engineering, health and safety consulting firms to develop and perform a water column monitoring program.
Also on Thursday, the Health Unit lifted its advisory for people with shore wells in the area.
If their drinking water has any change in taste, odour, or colour, or if a chemical sheen is seen within 50 feet (15 metres) of your well, it is recommended that they: • avoid drinking the water • use an alternate water source (e.g. bottled water, for drinking and other domestic purposes) • Contact the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change’s Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060 for further information •Test your well water once the issue has been resolved.
Fire Chief Scott Manlow who is chairperson of the Emergency Control Group said he was pleased with the municipality’s role in the situation.
“Residents and businesses in Picton and Bloomfield have had to boil their water for a week now (and) to add to that, we’ve seen that many residents took great measures to conserve their water use since that initial request was made almost two weeks ago,” he said.