A boil water advisory issued Wednesday for residents of Châteauguay was lifted Sunday morning. However, officials issued a correction Sunday afternoon warning that other municipalities in the Châteauguay Valley including Mercier, Léry, Saint-Isidore and Saint-Urbain would need to conduct their own tests before lifting the advisory for their residents.
The notice was given after fecal coliform was discovered in tap water, which if consumed, could pose a health risk.
On Friday, lab tests showed that only one out of 40 water samples was problematic, allowing officials to narrow the source of the contamination to a burst pipe.
On Thursday, several south shore communities were also placed under a boil water advisory, unrelated to the one issued in Châteauguay.
Over 130, 000 residents were affected in the cities of Saint-Lambert, Brossard, the borough of Greenfield Park and Longueuil’s Lemoyne district.
READ MORE: South shore boil water advisories partially lifted, Châteauguay advisory maintained
As of Sunday morning, only residents of Greenfield Park and Lemoyne remained under a boil water advisory. That notice was lifted shortly before noon Sunday after test results showed the water is safe for consumption.
Officials had been asking those citizens to continue boiling their tap water for at least one minute before consuming it.
What to do
Water that has been boiled for one minute or bottled water can be used for the following:
- 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,
- Brushing teeth and rinsing.
You can use unboiled tap water for the following:
- Washing dishes with hot water (make sure to dry it carefully),
- Washing clothes, showering and bathing (make sure young children do not swallow water while bathing or wash them with a facecloth).
City officials are recommending that residents who may be feeling some discomfort to call Info-Santé (8-1-1). Symptoms of drinking the tainted water could include vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.
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