The Municipality of Wawa's assuring drinking water is safe after an incident at the local water treatment plant resulted in elevated chlorine levels.
A release from the Municipality - in collaboration with Algoma Public Health - says the entire community serviced by municipal drinking water - including Michipicoten River Village - is affected, but emphasizes - while the water may smell or taste different - a health hazard does not exist and the water is still safe for drinking and bathing.
It further assures the Municipality's "working diligently to decrease chlorine levels to ensure they return to a level in which smell and/or taste will no longer be an issue", including by flushing water from the distribution system as needed and monitoring levels, promising to notify the community promptly if levels reach a point where they pose a risk to health, though that is not expected at this time.
It also suggests reducing your total showering or bathing time to avoid irritation - particularly minimizing direct prolonged contact with eyes - and advises that you can remove chlorine from drinking water by flushing your taps, running water through a filter with activated charcoal, consider boiling it and letting it cool to aid in chlorine evaporation - drinking throughout the day - or filling a jug in the morning, letting it sit in the open air or in a refrigerator, as chlorine will evaporate in the open air, then drink throughout the day.
The Municipality will be posting updates through its Facebook page - and contacting local media - though the office can also be contacted at 705-856-2244, extension 251, during regular business hours.