Wekweètì under precautionary boil water advisory

The GNWT’s Chief Environmental Health Officer has issued a boil water advisory for the community of Wekweètì following “freezing damage” to the water treatment plant.

“This advisory is precautionary in nature and is due to freezing damage to infrastructure in the community water treatment plant associated with an extended recent power outage. The treatment plant currently cannot properly treat the water,” read a statement released on behalf of Dr. Chirag Rohit this afternoon.

While officials said that no illnesses associated with drinking water have reported, the advisory was issued as a precautionary step. Health authorities are recommending that water be brought to a rolling boil for one minute prior to use for drinking consumption or oral hygiene.

“All water used for drinking, preparing food, hot and cold beverages, ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables, and dental hygiene must be boiled. This is of particular importance in the case of the preparation of infant formulas. Do not drink water from public drinking fountains. It is not necessary to boil water used for other household purposes. You may shower, bathe or wash using tap water, but avoid swallowing the water,” read the advisory.

Health officials are advising that alternatively, they recommend bottled water or water that has been processed through distillation, reverse osmosis or filtered using a filter size of 1 micron absolute or less.

“Brita” drinking water filters are not considered a safe method for treating water during a Boil Water Advisory, as they do not disinfect the water, said officials.

It is unclear when the issue will be resolved, but health officials reported that the community leadership is working with the territorial government to resolve the mechanical failure “as soon as possible.”

Anyone who would like more information can head to the GNWT’s boil water advisory webpage