Boil water advisory issued in Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah

For the first time in 11 years, people living in Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah are being asked to boil drinking water for at least one minute.

"The key message is that this is only a precautionary advisory," said Dr. Andr Corriveau, the N.W.T.'s chief public health officer.

The advisory is due to increased turbidity, or muddy water, related to low water levels in the Yellowknife River.

"It's not because we found bacteria or that there's any documented problem. With the turbidity levels as they are, they would have to use a lot more chlorine and the chlorination is less effective than it would be normally.

"We feel the only way to provide 100 per centprotection is to recommend that people boil water before they drink it."

Corriveau says there will be plenty of testing of the water.

"The turbidity will be checked every hour, and we will advise daybyday."

As for how long the advisory might be in effect, he couldn't say.

"We don't have a lot of experience," he says, noting that the last time his office issued such an order in Yellowknife was in 2004.

Infant formula especially a concern

Public health authorities are recommending that all water be boiled forat least oneminute.

That includes water used for:

• drinking
• preparing hot food
• hot and cold beverages
• ice cubes
• washing fruits and vegetables
• brushing teeth.

This is of particularimportance in the case of the preparation of infant formulas.

People are also advised not to drinkwater from public drinking fountains.

It's not necessary to boil water for other household purposes, such as showering andwashing hands, aslong as people avoid swallowing the water.

Caution against carbon filters

Public health also warns against relying oncarbon filters, of the type commonly installed over sink faucets.

"Brita-type drinking water filters which use activated carbon filters are not a safe method for treating water during a boil water advisory," a news release said.

"They do not disinfect the water."

• AUDIO: Dr.AndrCorriveauspeaks about the boil-water advisory