A 48-hour boil water advisory issued Sunday for the municipalities of Sainte-Julie, Varennes and Saint-Ambable, after a water sample tested positive for E. coli, has been prolonged until at least Wednesday.
According to city officials preliminary results are promising. A first test carried out at the water filtration plant showed no traces of E. coli.
Officials believe the water supply was likely never contaminated to begin with, but that the contamination stems from “the human manipulation of a sample.”
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However the advisory can only be lifted pending the results of a second test.
Those results are expected to be available Wednesday.
In the interim, residents are being urged to boil their tap water for at least one minute before using.
Officials recommend using boiled tap water or bottled water for the following:
- Preparing beverages or drinking,
- Preparing baby food or bottles,
- Preparing foods that are eaten raw such as fruits and vegetables, or any other food that doesn’t require long cooking times such as certain soups and desserts,
- Making ice cubes,
- Brushing teeth.
Regular tap water may be used for:
- Washing dishes, being careful to completely dry the dishes with a dishtowel,
- Doing laundry,
- Bathing or showering, ensuring young children do not swallow any of the water.
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