An emergency alert has been issued for the water supply at Grand Lake.
The alert says an unknown issue with the water has sent one person to hospital and caused animals to die.
All residents who draw on that supply are advised to cease using the water immediately.
That means you should not use it to drink, cook, or bathe. The alert also says you should not boil it or allow pets in the water.
Residents are advised to not go near the water, not even in a boat, until the order has been lifted
In a Tweet, the Department of Environment says samples will be taken from Grand Lake on Thursday morning, and they’re not concerned about other lakes at this time.
Environment staff experts will take samples from Grand Lake this morning using appropriate safety protocols. We have no information to suggest there is a concern in any other lakes at this time.
— NS Environment and Climate Change (@ns_environment) June 10, 2021
Meantime, Halifax Water has issued an update to say its tap water customers can continue normal drinking and use of their water.
The utility operates three small water systems within the same watershed as Grand Lake: Bomont, Collins Park, and Bennery Lake.
Halifax Water says none of those systems draw water from Grand Lake, which means the utility’s supply remains safe for normal use and consumption throughout HRM.
Regular monitoring has not detected anything outside of normal safe drinking water limits for those areas.
Halifax Water adds those who draw water directly from Grand Lake should continue to follow guidance from the municipality.
Halifax Water Tap Water Remains Safe
Halifax Water wishes to inform our tap water customers that their water continues to be safe for normal use/consumption. Customers who draw water directly from Grand Lake should follow guidance from HRM/NS.
More: https://t.co/8oI0q6JOeG pic.twitter.com/mikzjPdpsq
— Halifax Water (@HalifaxWater) June 10, 2021