PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORIES

For current public health advisories, view our Local Notices or visit the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU).

BOIL WATER ADVISORIES

Notice of any drinking water advisory will be issued by the Municipality of Schreiber or the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA). We will advertise community-wide boil advisory notices by Schreiber Emergency Notifications, on the radio (CFNO 93.1 FM), on our website, and both Facebook and Instagram.

If only a few properties are affected, Public Works or OCWA staff will put a notice on the main door to your house. We will provide a second notice when the boil water advisory is lifted. Visit the TBDHU to learn more about boil water advisories in the region.

The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) will carry out the required sampling of water for testing. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit will advise the Municipality when results allow for the lifting of the Boil Water Advisory.

WHAT TO DO IF A BOIL WATER ADVISORY IS ANNOUNCED

You should use bottled water or boil tap water. This is because a boil water advisory means your community’s water has, or could have, germs that can make you sick. For all information regarding drinking water advisories, please visit the CDC website.

Boil Water Advisory Advice:

• Use bottled or boiled water for drinking, and to prepare and cook food.
• If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
• Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter, or a pitcher that filters water).
• Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
• If you formula feed your child, provide ready-to-use formula, if possible.

Handwashing:

• In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash hands during a boil water advisory. Follow the guidance from the TBDHU.
• Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, then, rinse them well under running water.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Bathing and Showering:

• Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
• Use caustion when bathing babies or young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.

Brushing Teeth:

• Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.

Washing Dishes:

• Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66 Celsius), or the dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle.
• Sanitize all baby bottles.
• To wash dishes by hand you would wash your dishes normally using hot water.
  • In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
  • Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least 1 minute.
  • Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.

Laundry:

• It is safe to wash clothes as usual.

Cleaning:

• Clean washable toys and surfaces with:
  • Bottled water,
  • Boiled water, or
  • Water that has been disinfected with bleach.

Caring for Pets:

• Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people. Give pets bottled water or boiled water that has cooled.
• If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute. After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
• Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).
• Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.

Caring for your garden or houseplants:

• You can use tap water for household plants and gardens.

FOR INFORMATION OR CONCERNS PLEASE CONTACT

Tammy Ibey | Director of Operations
204 Alberta Street, P.O. Box 40,
Schreiber, ON, P0T 2S0
Work: (807) 824-2711 ext. 230
Cell: (807) 229-6677
Email: director@schreiber.ca