Update, January 4th 2026:
The District of Kitimat water system is now under a Boil Water Notice, due to turbidity of the Kitimat River. All users of the water system are urged to boil the water for at least two minutes before consuming.
All owners of public premises must make patrons aware of this boil water notice.
This Notice remains in effect until another public notice is issued upon the request or order of a Drinking Water Officer advising that the Notice has been amended or may be rescinded. The District continues working with Northern Health on this matter.
WHAT IS A BOIL WATER NOTICE?
A Boil Water Notice is one of the possible drinking water advisories used by a Drinking Water Officer when there may be real or potential health risks related to drinking water. There are different types of advisories that may be issued as a precaution to notify the public about impending risk. These levels of advisories are:
Water Quality Advisory – Where there is some level of risk associated with consuming the drinking water but a boil water notice is not needed. The risk is elevated for people with weakened immune systems.
Boil Water Notice – Where organisms in the water have the potential to make you sick. To safely consume, water must be brought to a rolling boil for at least 60 seconds or use alternate water sources.
Do Not Consume – Where there are harmful chemicals or other bad things in the water that can make you sick. Water cannot be made safe for consumption through boiling but is okay for other uses.
Do Not Use – There are known microbial, chemical, or radiological contaminants in the water and any contact with the water, with the skin, lungs or eyes can be dangerous.
The District of Kitimat recently announced that they were putting their residents under a Water Quality Advisory yesterday.
The advisory was put into effect due to elevated turbidity levels in the Kitimat River.
For the time being, Northern Health is recommending that any pregnant women, children, elders or people that have compromised immune systems boil their water before they drink it.
The advisory will remain in effect until the District announces that it’s being lifted.