Halifax warns residents of 'unknown issue' with Grand Lake drinking water that sent one person to hospital
Grand Lake outside Halifax is off limits again Friday as the province continues to investigate the source of possible contamination that sent one woman to hospital and killed two dogs.
Officials from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are looking at a possible connection to a number of dead fish found in the area.
“Fishery officers are aware of the dead fish in the area and they are looking into it as part of potentially the same incident,” says Mark Labelle, chief, policy and regulatory development for Fisheries and Oceans Maritimes Region.
The incident Labelle is talking about is the possible contamination of Grand Lake, N.S.
Two dogs died and one woman was sent to hospital after coming into contact with the water. Signs are now posted advising people to stay away from the lake.
On Thursday, DFO issued a prohibition order on fishing on Grand Lake and all of the Shubenacadie River.
Labelle adds “I want to emphasize that the prohibition order was put in there for the safety of the public and we’re working collaboratively with our federal, provincial and municipal counterparts to make sure everyone is aware of the potential risk in the area.”
There is also a risk to drinking water.
A number of residents have wells that draw from Grand Lake.
To help, the Municipality of East Hants is making water available for pick-up at the aquatic centre.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t go on for very much longer. I’m not prepared to go too much longer, but what can you do?” says Grand Lake resident Sherri Clow.
If the water ban is continued, East Hants Warden Eleanor Roulston says more resources, like opening the showers at the aquatic centre, could be made available to residents.
Officials from the Department of Environment and Climate Change continue to test samples taken from the lake.
Results have not yet been made public.
In a release Thursday evening, the province says it is testing water samples taken from Grand Lake and Fish Lake, near the Wellington and Enfield areas, for two types of toxins produced by blue-green algae.
The samples will be sent to a private lab to test for pesticides, organic and inorganic materials, as well as petroleum hydrocarbons.
In addition, a sample of sludge found in the lake is being sent to a specialist to identify.
The department says homeowners with wells that have a depth of 30 metres or less and are located within 60 metres of Grand Lake should not use their well water for drinking, bathing or cooking until further notice.
About 9,000 people in Halifax, Enfield, Elmsdale, Lantz and East Hants are supplied with water from the Grand Lake watershed through the East Hants Regional Water Utility.
Halifax Water issued a statement shortly after informing their tap water consumers that their water continues to be safe for normal use and consumption.
The utility does have plants in the area for their municipal water supply, but none are fed by Grand Lake.
According to James Campbell, communications manager at Halifax Water, there are three plants out there - Bomont, Bennery and Collins Park, which are all separate from Grand Lake. None of them receive their water supply from Grand Lake.
"The simple message is if you’re a Halifax Water customer, no matter where you live in our service area, your water is safe to drink,” says Campbell.
If you are not sure where your water comes from, you can check on the Halifax Water website.
Oakfield Provincial Park staff were putting up warning signs and roping off the beach area at Grand Lake this morning after one person and a couple of pets became ill after coming into contact with the water.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.