More than a week after a violent rainstorm forced murky water into Greater Vancouver’s reservoirs, the region’s drinking water has been declared free of contamination, public health officials said.
Two samples of water taken from a testing station near the University of B.C.’s experimental farm tested negative for the E. coli bacteria after one sample tested positive earlier this week.
However, Greater Vancouver residents will face a boil-water advisory for at least a few more days, said an official with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.
“We’re telling people to be prepared with their own water throughout the weekend,” said health official Dr. Patricia Daly. “We’re not setting a day on when the advisory will be lifted. We believe it’s only a matter of days.”
Greater Vancouver residents were hit with the boil-water advisory more than a week ago after heavy rains drove mudslides into area reservoirs, increasing turbidity in the water.