Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

advisory

Laval residents can use water but told not to consume it as advisory still in effect

Laval residents can use water but told not to consume it as advisory still in effect

Laval residents in the Ste-Dorothée district can now use their tap water but officials warned Thursday it still isn’t safe to drink, even if boiled. City officials first put out a notice on Tuesday, telling residents not to use their tap water at all. The advisory was issued after firefighters extinguished a blaze in the area and contaminants were found in the water. City officials suspect one of the products used to extinguish the blaze entered the local water supply for a brief amount of time.

Boil water advisory in effect for Wellington on the Lake residents

Boil water advisory in effect for Wellington on the Lake residents

A lack of communication between a private water testing firm for Wellington on the Lake and Prince Edward County has caused confusion for residents of a Wellington housing development. Thursday afternoon the county issued a warning that someone was going door to door telling people in the Wellington on the Lake housing development that a boil water advisory was in effect and the county issued a press release saying the advisory was a scam. However, Thursday evening before 9 o’clock, the county issued another release saying that a boil water advisory was in fact in effect. Wellington on the Lake is a separate drinking water system that receives water from the Wellington Drinking Water System.

Water quality advisory issued at Kitsilano Point Beach

Water quality advisory issued at Kitsilano Point Beach

The beach at the tip of Kitsilano Point is closed due to repeat E. coli samples above the recommended level. Vancouver Coastal Health issued an advisory on Canada Day, noting multiple E. coli counts of 591 per 100 millilitres, well above the advised limit of 400 per 100 mL. The health authority says there is an increased risk of illness to swimmers when E. coli levels exceed guidance. The public is advised not to swim or wade in the water until the advisory ends, especially seniors, infants and kids, and people with weakened immune systems who are most susceptible.

Fecal bacteria in Chestermere Lake prompts advisory to stay out of the water

Fecal bacteria in Chestermere Lake prompts advisory to stay out of the water

Alberta Health Services issued a water quality advisory on Friday for Chestermere Lake because of elevated levels of fecal bacteria. AHS says people should not swim or wade in the water at Anniversary Park Beach, Cove Park Beach or Sunset Park Beach, effective immediately. Contact with the water could result in gastrointestinal illness. Skin, ear and eye infections are also possible. Water-borne organisms, including fecal bacteria, can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Flood warning issued for Carmacks, Yukon

Flood warning issued for Carmacks, Yukon

A flood warning was issued for Carmacks, Yukon, Tuesday as the Yukon River continues to rise near the community. "Low lying areas are currently flooding," reads a news release from the Yukon government's Emergency Measures Organization (EMO). The river level rose by 21 cm in the last 24 hours, according to EMO. Part of the rise is because of rain. The weather forecast calls for more rain on Wednesday and then some clearing.

Iqaluit lifts boil water advisory after 4 days

Iqaluit lifts boil water advisory after 4 days

People in Iqaluit can drink the tap water again, after being advised Friday the water was unsafe due to a "mechanical failure." That's according to a Monday public service announcement from the City of Iqaluit. No further details were offered on the nature of the mechanical failure that led to the advisory. The advisory was at least the third one this year, coming two months after one that stemmed from repairs to a water valve. Before that, the city issued a boil water advisory in January after it detected fuel in its water supply.

Windsor-Essex County Health Unit issues advisory over blue-green algae

Windsor-Essex County Health Unit issues advisory over blue-green algae

The south shores of Lake St. Clair are under a blue-green algae bloom advisory. The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit issued the warning on Friday, saying that people should avoid swimming if the water looks cloudy or like "green paint or pea soup." "Infants and young children [under age six] should not swim or play in the water. For adults and children six years of age and older, they should swim with caution and rinse off after swimming," the health unit said in a media release.

Existence of blue-green algae confirmed in Grand Lake water toxicity test

Existence of blue-green algae confirmed in Grand Lake water toxicity test

Blue-green algae has returned as the main suspect in the Grand Lake water contamination saga. “The National Research Council lab did confirm that there are what are known as … the toxins associated with blue-green algae that were collected on Friday,” Julie Towers, deputy minister of the provincial Environment Department, said at a news conference in Elmsdale on Tuesday afternoon.

N.W.T. health officials issue boil-water advisory for Behchokǫ

N.W.T. health officials issue boil-water advisory for Behchokǫ

Public health officials are urging residents in Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T., to boil drinking water for at least one minute. The advisory comes following mechanical problems at the community's water treatment plant. In a news release the Department of Health and Social Services said the problems led to turbid — cloudy — water being distributed. The advisory applies to both piped and trucked water.

'You are not forgotten': Outpouring of support for Neskantaga First Nation

'You are not forgotten': Outpouring of support for Neskantaga First Nation

Students plan to launch a second letter-writing campaign in the new year addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller calling for clean running water for First Nations communities. The letter campaign is called "We haven't forgotten you," said Frank Pio, the school board's Indigenous education teacher. "It's really unfair that they don't get safe water to drink," Comazzi said.

Stz’uminus First Nation reservoir loses 500,000 litres due to damaged fire hydrant

Stz’uminus First Nation reservoir loses 500,000 litres due to damaged fire hydrant

The Stz’uminus First Nation reservoir has lost 500,000 litres of water after a damaged fire hydrant was discovered in the Shell Beach area of Stz’uminus. Due to the water loss, Stz’uminus does not have enough water in the reservoir to safely fight a fire if one broke out. Local fire departments are on standby with pumper trucks in the event of a fire. In a press release, Stz’uminus said that 33 truckloads of water will be brought in to help refill the reservoir at ‘significant cost’.

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