Victoria Beach warned not to use, consume tap water

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This article was published 28/07/2018 (2940 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Victoria Beach residents and visitors have been unable to use the drinking water system — for drinking, ice making, preparing food or beverages or brushing teeth — after a ‘Do Not Consume’ advisory was issued by the province on Friday night.

A public notice issued by Manitoba Health posted on a community Facebook site and around the town advised the level of concern was so high that young children should not be bathed in the water in case they swallowed some of it.

The advisory stated that “the system has been compromised after an unauthorized chemical was added to the treatment process.” The result was in low levels of chlorine in the treated water which meant the “microbiological safety of the water cannot be assured.”

It also stated that the water cannot be made safe by boiling the water.

About 1,200 Victoria Beach cottagers rely on the water supply. The popular Lake Winnipeg summer destination is located 100 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

There was an election in the RM of Victoria Beach on Friday night which has contributed to a widespread lack of information about what is happening with the drinking water in the community.

Reeve-elect Penny McMorris, who defeated incumbent Brian Hodgson, said she could not say how concerned she is about the drinking water because she didn’t have enough information yet.

“I don’t know what the implications may or may not be, just that they’re saying don’t drink it, don’t use it, don’t consume it, don’t boil it,” McMorris said in a telephone interview on Saturday. “I’m still on a fact-finding mission myself.”

She said she is hoping to have a meeting with the Office of Drinking Water (Sustainable Development) and with the new council as soon as possible to “go through what’s gone on with our water.”

There have been issues in the past with the community’s drinking water supply, most recently at the beginning of the 2018 season. The community was without water for the May long weekend for the first time in at least 70 years when it was discovered a pump wasn’t working.

While some residents expressed gratitude on social media that the problem this time was discovered quickly but that didn’t help residents who don’t use social media or didn’t have access to the internet.

Jack Peters, a member of the Victoria Beach Fire Department, said members volunteered to go out into the community on foot early Saturday morning to help get the word out.

“A number of members walked door to door to distribute provincial notices to those residents who rely on the municipal water supply,” Peters said. “Many people had learned of the order by electronic or other means, but many others had not and were glad to receive the warning.”

He said it is not known when the advisory will be lifted.

“I understand that a water sample will have to test clear for whatever chemical was added, and most likely the water will have to test clear again after seven days before the order would be rescinded,” Peters said.

A spokesman from the province said the ‘do not consume’ advisory will remain in effect until multiple-stage testing at numerous points is complete including tests of water from the treatment and filtration centre, the reservoir, the distibution system and consumers’ taps.

Michelle Hlady, manager of the Victoria Beach Grocery and General Store, said the water advisory is impacting the store in supplies and sales.

“We’re amalgamated with Saffies General Store at Albert Beach, they are making coffee and we’re bringing it over in urns. We don’t have slushies working. Our distributor, Trainor Water, is supplying us as fast as he can. Chris has delivered once today already and I just called him for another delivery,” Hlady said, referring to Chris Trainor of Trainor Artesian Water Company.

“When we got to the store this morning, an advisory was put up on our door so then we had to scurry around trying to get as much water as we can.”

Chris Trainor said his company was “keeping up with the demand” for extra orders from both residential and commercial customers.

“We’ve extra crew running to supply people with bottled water and we’ve got regular accounts as well. The volume has definitely increased but we’re keeping on top of it with the stores and the deliveries of spring water,” Trainor said. “Our well is capable of producing 200 gallons a minute in natural overflow from the artesian spring so no shortage of good cold water there.”

Cottage owner Ann Pratt said she and her husband Ron didn’t hear about the advisory until they were notified by their children.

“My son-in-law dropped off a large container of water. He drove up from Winnipeg and we found it on the doorstep. We did have some in our cooler left over so that’s what we’re going with,” she said.

Councillor-elect Steve Axworthy said the new council will be sworn in on Monday and expects more information will be available then.

“Until we’re sworn in, we’re not allowed to be privy to sensitive information,” he said.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca