A boil-water advisory for water distribution system users in Wheatley and Tilbury has been lifted just in time for the Victoria Day long weekend.
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The advisory had been issued Monday due to a loss of water pressure throughout the system.
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Since then, CK Public Health has received consecutive sets of satisfactory water sample test results.
Based on these results, acting medical officer of health Dr. Shanker Nesathurai rescinded the advisory, a release said Thursday afternoon.
Darren Galbraith, general manager of Chatham-Kent’s public utilities commission (PUC), said two days of satisfactory sampling were required, 24 hours apart.
“All those samples have all come back all clear,” he told Thursday’s regular virtual commission meeting, noting both CK Public Health and Windsor-Essex County Health Unit approved lifting the advisory.
“We worked very hard. . . so that we would not be putting people in Wheatley and Tilbury into this state over a long weekend.”
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On Sept. 13, 2023, fire at the Wheatley water treatment plant caused officials to issue a boil-water advisory at that time due to the impact on the distribution system. That advisory was lifted in early October
Water continues to be supplied through an interconnection with Leamington and from the southern water treatment plant in Chatham-Kent.
In the meantime, Galbraith said the PUC continues to order replacement equipment for the Wheatley plant, and will hire a contractor to install it.
“We hope to have the tender ready for contractors to bid soon,” he said.
Also Thursday, Galbraith updated the commission on emergency expenses in the wake of the plant fire. They totaled $688,920 in December 2023, and another $864,821 in costs have been incurred since then.
“All these costs will be submitted to the insurer for reimbursement,” he said. “Any costs not covered will come from our general water reserves.”
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