E. coli found in Low, Que. tap water, township warns
The municipality of Low, Que., about 60 km north of Gatineau, is warning residents of the presence of E. coli in municipal tap water. A boil water advisory is in effect.
In a notice on the municipality’s website, dated Sept. 23, officials say recent analyses have shown the presence of fecal coliforms in the water.
“Contamination of water by these bacteria means that it may also contain microorganisms that are dangerous to your health. The most common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain,” a note signed by general manager Sandra Martineau says.
The municipality says water should be boiled for at least one minute prior to using it for the following activities:
- drinking and preparing beverages;
- preparing infant formula and baby food;
- washing and preparing food that will be eaten raw (fruits, vegetables, etc.);
- preparing food that does not require prolonged cooking (canned soups, desserts, etc.);
- making ice cubes; and
- brushing teeth and rinsing the mouth.
Unboiled tap water may be used for washing dishes in hot water, provided they are well-dried, washing clothes, and bathing, though the municipality says parents should ensure children don’t swallow any water while bathing or showering.
Schools and businesses have been instructed to shut off their water fountains and notify people of the advisory.
The source of the contamination is unknown.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may have caused and thank you for your understanding,” Martineau wrote. “The municipality of Township of Low is currently taking all available measures to determine the source of the problem and correct it.”
Resident Tara Wakeling tells CTV News Ottawa there has never been an E. coli notice in the 60 years the well has fed the municipality.
"I asked about the level of contamination and was told that it was too high to measure," Wakeling said. "We have been under a boil water advisory since July 8. I think there was a day and half that it was lifted. We spent two days without water while they changed the pump. We lost water for almost 24 hours last Friday without notice or explanation. Then, we received notice that there is E. coli in the water yesterday."
Wakeling says there needs to be more of an effort to upgrade and repair the system to protect the town's water supply.
A boil water notice for the Low Pumping Station was issued Aug. 1 and remains in effect, according to the township’s website. An identical notice was also issued July 8.
The notice does not state a specific reason for the advisory, but says it would be cancelled when “satisfactory results are obtained from the water analysis.”
The advisory asks residents to boil water for at least five minutes before consuming it.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.