I wake up this morning and see that the water’s brown. Naturally, I let the tap run a few minutes, nothing. After that, I check the web – the usual news sources, 24 hours, Metro News, Vancouver Sun, nothing.

So, I turn to the next best thing – Vancouver Coastal Health:

—–Original Message—–
From: Blatherwick, John [VC]
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 3:16 PM
To: Zanocco, Viviana [CORP]; VCHA SET
Cc: VCHA Executive Assistants
Subject: FW: Here comes the BROWN WATER
Importance: High

Here comes the Brown water. Seymour is off line due to a water line break and so Capilano is in full use. Capilano is traditionally our worst source. It has a huge head of water that is brown heading for the intake. They are damming it and trying to hold as much of it back as they can but sometime tonight, the brown water will hit.

This will affect all the North Shore and most of Vancouver and much of Burnaby and probably Richmond. The North Shore will be hit for sure – they can mitigate Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby somewhat with Coquitlam water. But I expect the brown water (over 10 NTU) will hit sometime tonight. I’ve asked for an advance warning to go out to the media for tonight’s news and tomorrow’s papers.

My message is – I don’t drink brown water. I’m not issuing a boil water order as that causes more problems than it’s worth – when it’s this brown – people aren’t going to use it. Get your stocks in bottled water. This is why we built the filtration plant!!!

Most of Fraser should be OK – but Burnaby will get some of this water – maybe even New West.

Thank you,

John

John Blatherwick, CM, CD, MD, FRCP(C)
Chief Medical Health Officer
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
#800 – 601 West Broadway
Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4C2
Phone: (604) 675-3804
Fax: (604) 736 – 8651
E-Mail:

We don’t get offered crises, they arrive.

—
An official advisory, as well:

November 16, 2006
To: All VCH and PHC staff and physicians
From: Dr. Brian O’Connor, Medical Health Officer
Dr. Patricia Daly, Medical Health Officer
Re: GVRD water advisory

With the heavy rainstorms over the past 48 hours, water in the reservoirs that supply drinking water to homes and businesses throughout Greater Vancouver is cloudy and brown. Turbidity readings are at unprecedented highs. As turbidity increases, there is a potential for increased risk of gastro-intestinal illness. On the advice of VCH’s Medical Health Officers, the GVRD has issued a water advisory for all communities it serves. This advisory suggests that residents may wish to use an alternate drinking water source such as bottled or boiled water.

VCH and PHC, however, are advising hospitals, long term care facilities, school districts, child care facilities and restaurants to use only boiled or bottled water for consumption, for teeth brushing, and in the preparation of fruits and vegetables. This means patients must be provided with these alternate sources of water.

VCH and PHC Supply Chain staff are aware that there will be increased demand for bottled water until the advisory is lifted. Orders for additional water (and other fluids) can be placed through regular channels.

The difference between the GVRD advisory and the instructions being provided to care facilities is that the latter REQUIRES the use of boiled or bottled water, as opposed to merely recommending it. This is a standard precaution in health facilities where patients are under our direct care.

Please remember that tap water is acceptable for uses other than drinking, brushing teeth or washing fruits and vegetables. GVRD staff will continue to monitor water quality closely. This advisory will remain in effect until VCH’s Medical Health Officers are satisfied that drinking water quality has returned to an acceptable standard.

So now you know. Don’t drink the water – it tastes and smells bad.