LETHBRIDGE- While city officials are working around the clock with operations crews to restore Lethbridge’s water levels, health officials are doing all they can to ensure residents safety during the boil water order.
That includes regular inspections at food establishments throughout the city as well as cancelling several procedures at Chinook Regional Hospital.
“We had 23 surgeries cancelled and 33 procedures cancelled today,” said Dr. Vanessa Maclean, south zone medical director for Alberta Health Services.
It’s a serious ripple effect, all water users across Lethbridge and surrounding communities feeling the pinch and struggling to keep up with very serious demands.
“Our major focus has been on our ability to reprocess and sterilize surgical and procedural equipment,” added Maclean. “Because of the boil water order we are not able to safely use that equipment at this time.”
The health impacts of a boil water order are making waves across the city, creating confusion over the do’s and don’ts during an order like this one:
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Do’s
- Water is safe for laundry, bathing and dishwashers
- Use hand sanitizer after washing hands
Don’ts
- Drinking tap water
- Consumption by pets
- Brushing Teeth
- Cleaning raw foods or washing fruits and vegetables
- Preparing infant formula or juices
- Making ice
The repercussions of non-potable water are affecting services everywhere from our health care facilities, trickling down to food establishments.
“Since yesterday afternoon all the inspectors have fanned out to all the food premises in the city,” said Brian Dalshaug, Environmental Public Health for the south zone. “They’ve gone and conducted inspections and have had a conversation with the operators on the types of procedures and temperatures that they need in their dish washing machines for example, to the coffee machines.”
Restaurants have been more than happy to co-operate, the state of emergency causing just a small splash in what’s normally smooth sailing.
“The health department came over and they said that we can serve coffee and our fish washers were all safe because they use chemicals,” said Hans Isele, owner of Smitty’s.
Though only in effect since Wednesday, facilities are already adjusting and are prepared to go with the flow.
“Our aim is to try to get back to as close to normal operations tomorrow as possible,” said Maclean.
Officials stress that the primary concern during this state of emergency is resident’s safety.
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