After more than seven months, the preventive boil water advisory affecting nearly 70% of the population of Shawinigan was lifted on Monday.
The preventive notice in effect since December 1, 2021 targeted citizens served by the Lac-à-la-Pêche (STELAP) water treatment plant. Residents of the Saint-Gérard-des-Laurentides, Shawinigan, Shawinigan-Sud and Lac-à-la-Tortue sectors therefore had to boil their water before consuming it.
In December, the Investigation Bureau reported that parasites could be present in the water of Lac-à-la-Pêche and the chlorination treatment used did not eliminate them.
“The drinking water treatment that was in place before January 2020 was not sufficient to prevent health risks,” said an employee of the CIUSSS Mauricie-et-Centre-du-Québec, Philippe Lehoux.
A new factory had been built, but it was not working properly.
To remedy the situation, Shawinigan restarted STELAP on a temporary basis by adding a temporary wastewater treatment pilot unit.
The City is asking all citizens in the sectors concerned to use drinking water in moderation in order to preserve STELAP’s waste water treatment capacity during the transitional period.
Tests carried out in recent weeks indicate that the optimal treatment capacity of this unit corresponds to a production of drinking water of nearly 22,000 m3 per day.
These tests carried out on the aqueduct network gave the green light to the city to put an end to the preventive boil water advisory. A protocol approved by the regional public health department was followed.
“Together, we have taken up a major challenge to lift this obligation to boil tap water for nearly 30,000 residents,” Shawinigan Mayor Michel Angers said in a statement, thanking all the employees who put the hands-on in this file. We hope that the transitional measures can last until the establishment of the permanent installations. And until then, I invite all citizens to use drinking water in moderation.”
A lawn watering ban will be in effect from Tuesday, until the end of the summer, for residents of the areas concerned.
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