The Ahousaht First Nation has declared a local state of emergency due to a contaminated water supply and a low reservoir level in the remote west coast community.
According to the First Nations Health Authority, Ahousaht has been under a precautionary boil water advisory since Sunday after an increase in water turbidity was reported.
Ahousaht Chief Greg Louie said the reservoir is now at 32 per cent.
The local school is closed and the First Nation is preparing to evacuate their elderly and infirm to Tofino.
Due to the low levels of water in the reservoir, there is concern about firefighting capability.
The First Nations Health Authority, Indigenous Services Canada and Emergency Management BC are all assisting in evacuation effort.s The causes of the contamination and the low reservoir level are under investigation.
The First Nations Health Authority said there has been a flyover to try and determine what caused the contamination.
A mudslide has not been detected and a possible cause is the recent heavy rainfall.
#ahousaht under Boil Water Advisory after mystery soil contaminants entered village’s water resevoir early today or late last night @scottfraserndp @GordJohns @Catherine_RDGBC pic.twitter.com/ZjnvHYaOT9 — Ahousaht Admin (@AhousahtAdmin) November 5, 2018 The First Nations Health Authority is sending an Environmental Health Officer to carry out further tests on the water to help determine the source of the problem.
With files from CBC