UPDATE: Mar 11, 7 a.m.
The water advisory for Teepee Creek has been lifted.
UPDATE: Mar 10, 9 a.m.
The County of Grande Prairie says work on the Teepee Creew water filtration system will kick into high gear on Tuesday as the hamlet has been under a water advisory since mid-day Monday.
Officials say the will begin at 8:00 a.m., while at the same time, a planned power outage will be taking place as ATCO crews accommodate a high load move. The county says the power outage is expected to last until noon, while they believe the water issues could be cleared up by 3 p.m.
When water service is restored, all residents must flush all water lines in their homes for a minimum of 20 minutes before using the water for drinking or cooking. After flushing lines, the water will be potable and safe to drink and cook with.
Residents of the Hamlet of Teepee Creek are being advised not to drink the community’s tap water after high levels of manganese were detected following a failure of the local water filtration system.
The County of Grande Prairie issued the advisory and warned residents the water is not safe for drinking or cooking and cannot be made safe by boiling.
Manganese is an essential nutrient found naturally in the environment, according to the Government of Canada. However, consuming too much manganese in drinking water can lead to adverse health effects.
Health officials warn drinking water containing high levels of manganese may pose a health risk to infants. Formula-fed infants may be especially vulnerable if the water used to prepare formula contains manganese above recommended guideline levels.
Residents are advised to use bottled water for drinking and preparing baby formula, food, hot and cold beverages and ice cubes. Infants, children under five and pregnant women are advised to strictly follow the precaution.
Adults and older children are considered at lower risk but should still take precautions.
Officials note manganese is not absorbed through the skin or by breathing vapours, meaning tap water can still be used for showering, bathing and washing. However, infants and children under five should avoid swallowing the water while bathing.
The County of Grande Prairie said it is working to secure safe drinking water for the community while repairs to the water filtration system are completed.
Residents will be notified when potable water becomes available and again when manganese levels return to safe levels.
