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Melfort and area under boil water advisory

Jul 25, 2016 | 2:21 PM

The Melfort Regional Water Supply System has issued a Precautionary Drinking Water Advisory.

The system intake at Codette Lake could be shut down as early as Tuesday, according to a press. SaskWater is currently looking for an alternate source of water unaffected by the spill.

In an attempt to mitigate the oil spill damage, the communities of Melfort, Kinistino, Beatty, Weldon, Star City, and the Melfort rural pipeline association are all under the advisory immediately.

All water used should reach a boiling temperature for at least one minute prior to drinking, washing fruits or vegetables, and brushing teeth. Residents may still shower but are advised to avoid consuming any tap water.

If residents take water from another source they are advised to make sure that the source hasn’t been contaminated.

Drinking water advisories are in place until water samples prove that water is safe for consumption. Residents are advised to suspend non-essential use of water such as washing cars or watering lawns.

On July 21, roughly 200,000 to 250,000 litres of heavy oil mixed with diluent escaped from a Husky Energy pipeline east of Lloydminster near the Highway 21 bridge.

 

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