City urges boaters to stay off the Ottawa River

The City of Ottawa is asking boaters to stay off the water to prevent waves from breaching sandbags surrounding flooded properties along the Ottawa River.

Boaters are being asked to treat the shorelines of the river as no-wake zones along FitzroyHarbour, Constance Bay, Armitage, Crystal Bay, Britannia, and Cumberland, according to a public service announcement issued Saturday.

The city also warned that debris can pose a hazard to boaters.

Gatineau request denied

The City ofGatineauhad previously asked the Quebec government toprohibit navigation on the Ottawa River, but their request was denied after the province consultedwith Transport Canada.

The warning comes after the worst flood in decades displaced hundreds of people in Ontario and Quebec, including the national capital region.

• Full coverage of the 2017 floods around Ottawa-Gatineau

Water levels have already started to recede in many of the affected areas as municipalities turn their attention to recovery efforts.

Well water warning

In another public service announcement Saturday,Ottawa Public Health urged people whose wells are affected by flooding to neither drink nor use the water until it's been tested and proven safe.

Wells maybe unsafe to use if they're surrounded by flood water, if the well head is below the water level, or if the owner's basement is flooded, public health said.

Water sample bottles can be picked up and later dropped off for testing at the city's three emergency community support centres:

• R.J. Kennedy Arena, 1115 Dunning Rd.
• Constance and Buckham's Bay Community Centre, 262 Len Purcell Dr.
• Royal Canadian Legion 616, 377 Allbirch Rd.

Samples can be dropped off at the centres between noon and 8 p.m., as well as on Tuesdays at the normal municipal water drop-off centres.

Results arrive within two to four business days, health officials said.