HUDSON’S HOPE, B.C. - Residents connected to Hudson’s Hope’s municipal water system are being advised to boil water before using it for drinking and food preparation.
The advisory comes after the District issued a precautionary boil water notice Tuesday morning.
The notice took effect at 10 a.m. on September 15 and applies to all users of the municipal water system as the District transitions from a temporary clarifier to a newly installed permanent clarifier at its water treatment plant.
Officials say the switch is an important step in commissioning the upgraded treatment system and will require additional monitoring and review by Northern Health before the notice can be lifted.
Water Testing Expected to Take Weeks
According to the District, the precautionary notice will remain in place until water quality sampling confirms the new treatment process is operating as intended and the results have been accepted by Northern Health.
The process is expected to take approximately four to six weeks because of the time required for sample collection, laboratory testing and regulatory review.
During the notice, residents are being asked to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing infant formula, or making beverages such as coffee, tea and juice.
Water can continue to be used for showering, bathing, laundry, household cleaning and flushing toilets, although residents are advised to avoid swallowing water while bathing.
Transition Marks Major Upgrade
District officials say the notice is a standard public health measure used during significant changes to drinking water treatment systems and is intended to protect residents while monitoring confirms the upgraded infrastructure is performing as designed.
The transition follows work that began in late August to bring the new clarifier online.
At the time, the District warned residents they could experience temporary pressure fluctuations and changes in water clarity as crews moved from rented treatment equipment to the new permanent infrastructure.
Long-Standing Water Challenges
The commissioning of the permanent clarifier is part of Hudson’s Hope’s long-term effort to address water quality problems that have affected the community for years.
According to the District, those challenges began after changes associated with the Site C project forced the community to move away from drawing water directly from the Peace River in 2020.
Officials say declining groundwater quality led to ongoing treatment issues, increased maintenance requirements and concerns from residents about taste and odour.
The community experienced several boil water notices and do-not-consume orders in subsequent years.
In 2023, Hudson’s Hope returned to using the Peace River through a temporary treatment system while a permanent solution was developed.
Current upgrades include a permanent pumping system, new water intake infrastructure and a District-owned clarifier designed to provide a long-term surface water treatment solution.
The District says it will continue to provide updates throughout the commissioning process and will notify residents when the precautionary boil water notice is lifted.