The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) and Island Health have lifted the boil water notice for all users of the Comox Valley water system, effective immediately.

The notice was issued on May 31 due to a positive E. coli sample from the Comox Reservoir. Island Health requires that a boil water notice be issued immediately when E. coli is detected in the treated water. Only after three days of clean samples can the boil water notice be lifted.

Since the initial detection, approximately 25 water samples throughout the Comox Valley water system have been tested. All samples have been clear of the bacteria including samples taken directly from the reservoir, as per provincial guidelines. The CVRD and Island Health have confirmed that water quality in the Comox Valley Water system is safely within provincial drinking water guidelines.

Comox Valley water system users are recommended to take the following actions as per provincial guidelines:

Run cold-water faucets and drinking fountains for one minute before using the water.

Drain and flush all ice-making machines in your refrigerator.

Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.

Drain and refill hot water tanks set below 45 C (normal setting is 60 C).

Change any pre-treatment filters (under sink style and refrigerator water filters, carbon block, activated carbon, sediment filters, etc.).

The water that supplies the Comox Valley water system originates in Comox Lake and is taken from the Puntledge River and delivered to approximately 45,000 residents. Those areas affected by the boil water notice were the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox, and the Comox Valley, Arden, Marsden/Camco, Greaves Crescent, and England Road water local service areas.

For up-to-date information and resources on boil water notices visit comoxvalleyrd.ca/boil and www.viha.ca/mho/water/boil_water.

To register for text message or voice mail notifications about future boil water notices and other emergency notifications visit: comoxvalleyrd.ca/getnotified. Remember to choose both the community in which you live and the Comox Valley Water Supply System (boil water) notification lists. No access to a computer? You can also register by calling 250-334-6057.