Water in most of Montreal unsafe to drink

CTV Montreal News
May 22, 2013

1.3 million people do not have safe, clean drinking water after the city of Montreal issued a boil water advisory.

The water throughout most of the island — the entire borough of St. Laurent, from LaSalle to Pointe aux Trembles and everywhere in between — is not safe to drink.

Water throughout the boroughs of Anjou, Villeray and St. Leonard, while north of the Metropolitan, is also unsafe, as is water in the towns of Mount Royal, Hampstead, Westmount, Cote Saint Luc, Montreal East, Montreal West and the off-island town of Charlemagne.

The city is advising everyone affected to boil their water for 60 seconds before consuming, using it for brushing teeth, or for cooking or washing food.

Officials say any water that has been stored since last night, either in pitchers, used in ice cubes, or something similar should be thrown out.

Non-boiled water can be safely used for washing clothes or for bathing.

“This is strictly a preventative measure at this point. We didn’t notice any bacterial contamination the water — strictly turbidity, just sediment,” said Gordon Routley Division Chief of the Montreal fire department.

[hat tip: Emmanuel Buckshi]