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» Go to news mainBoil water advisory: FAQs and what to do when the advisory ends
Parts of Halifax, including Dalhousie's Halifax campuses, are currently under a boil water advisory.
What should I do after the advisory ends?
Once the advisory ends, the supplier/regulator will often include guidance on what flushing of water lines is needed (if any). In your home, as well as on campus, the general guidance if nothing specific comes out is to dispose of any ice that may have been made with water during the advisory, and to run your faucets for three minutes to allow fresh, clean, water to work through the system. If you have a water softener system, you should run it through a regeneration cycle.
On-campus, Facilities staff are lined up to flush our buildings’ main distribution lines, as well as our drinking fountains around campus. Once the advisory is lifted, people can help by flushing faucets in their specific area (such as an office kitchenette, a lunchroom, or their own residence room) for three minutes. In the case of a shared faucet in a kitchenette or lunchroom, leaving a little note by the faucet so that others they work with are aware it’s already been done is a great tip.
What is a boil water advisory, and when can they be used?
Drinking water is heavily regulated, and there are strict rules around its quality to ensure everyone has clean, safe water. Municipal boil water advisories are most often issued whenever testing detects higher than acceptable levels of coliform bacteria, or when there are issues with treatment or chlorination systems. The advisory will identify how long water should be boiled, to ensure it is fully safe to consume.
How do I know when a boil water advisory is in place?
When an issue arises, you will often receive notification through various means. Halifax Water will issue an advisory notice (https://www.halifaxwater.ca/notice/boil-water-advisory-effect-pockwock-service-area), which is often also shared via social media channels. All Municipal and Registered Water Supply notices are also posted on the Province’s Environment and Climate Change (who regulates water supplies) website (https://www.novascotia.ca/nse/water/boiladvisory.asp)
As drinking water impacts a large portion of the population, Halifax often sends notification out via “hfxALERT,” which is their mass notication system. You can learn more about this system, and sign up, by visiting the municipality’s website (https://www.halifax.ca/safety-security/emergency-management/hfxalert). It is recommended that people sign up for this system, if they reside or work within the municipality.
And finally, to keep up to date on all urgent information on campus, messaging for such events are also spread via the DALSAFE app. This is the best method to be informed of any on-campus incidents, including boil water advisories, as well as campus or building closures. You can find more information on the app on the app store / google play. You can also find more information, and/or sign up for Dal text alerts, via the DalSAFE website (https://www.dal.ca/dept/dalsafe/download.html)
How do I know what watershed I am fed by?
Halifax Water has multiple watersheds that are used as supply areas, with the biggest three being: Pockwock, Lake Major, and Bennery Lake (these three feed 99.95% of all Halifax Water customers). The Pockwock watershed feeds Peninsular Halifax (including Dalhousie), as well as neighbouring communities such as: Bedford, Spryfield, Beechville, Lakeside, Sackville, Hammonds Plains, etc. A link to an interactive map to determine if you are fed from Pockwock can be found in the boil water advisory from Halifax Water (https://www.halifaxwater.ca/notice/boil-water-advisory-effect-pockwock-service-area). People on well water would not be fed from one of Halifax Water’s supplies, so would be excluded from the advisory.
What should I do during an advisory?
Details of what to do during the advisory will be shared from the regulator, including how long you should bring water to a rolling boil before consumption (typically one minute). More information on this can be found on Environment and Climate Change’s Boil Water Factsheet (https://www.novascotia.ca/nse/water/docs/Boilwater-Factsheet.pdf)
What about bottled water?
Commercially bottled water is also a good option during a boil water advisory, but due to demand it is often hard to get adequate supplies in the first few days. To be prepared for a boil water advisory, or incidents such a storm or water main break which stops the water supply, it is always good to have an appropriate supply of drinkable water on hand. It is generally recommended to have a three-day supply on hand, with four litres per person per day for drinking and cooking purposes.
Commercially bottled water, if still sealed in its original container, and stored properly, can often last for years (check for a manufacturer’s listed date on the product to be sure). Bottled water should be stored in a cool, clean area, away from direct sunlight and cleaning or chemical products.
What about coffee? Why can I still buy that in restaurants?
Commercial coffee machines often operate in a fashion that they remain safe to drink from during a boil water advisory, since the water tank is held at a high enough temperature, although you should always follow guidance from water regulators/suppliers. Some providers, especially those which cannot guarantee their equipment can meet these temperatures, may choose to limit services during the advisory to ensure the ongoing safety of all.
For home or office machines, it is best to use boiled and cooled, or bottled, water.
More information on this can be found in Appendix E of Environment and Climate Change’s “Guidelines for Monitoring Public Drinking Water Supplies, Part I – Municipal Public Drinking Water Supplies” (https://www.novascotia.ca/nse/water/docs/Monitoring_Public_Water_Guidelines_Municipal.pdf)
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