Precautionary boil water advisory issued for Sambaa K'e, N.W.T.

Residents of Sambaa K'e should boil their water for at least a minute before consuming it, the N.W.T.'s chief environmental health officer says.

The boil water advisory, issued Monday, is precautionary and is "due to a critical mechanical failure in the community's water treatment system."

"The treatment plant is not able to properly treat the water. There have been no illnesses associated with drinking water reported in the community," the advisory reads.

The chief environmental health officer and the community government will continue to monitor the water and will issue a formal notice when the advisory is lifted.

All water used for drinking, cooking, preparing beverages, washing produce ice cubesand brushing teeth "must be boiled."

"This is of particular importance in the case of the preparation of infant formula," the advisory said.

The notice also said residents should not drink from drinking fountains.

Showering and bathing without boiling the water is fine, but people should avoid swallowing the water.