Harriston boil water advisory remains in effect

Residents in Harriston are still under a boil water advisory after a deluge of rain Thursday night and Friday morning flooded the southern Ontario community, part of the rural municipality of Town of Minto.

The boil water advisory was put into place on Friday as a precautionary measure andit willlikely be in effect until the end ofTuesdayat the earliest, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health said.

• State of emergency declared in Harriston due to widespread flooding
• Flooding in Elora, West Montrose, New Hamburg after 100mm rainfall

"The extreme flooding could result in situations that may cause the drinking water to become unsafe for consumption," public health said in a release.

The Minto Fire Department tweeted Monday anyone in need of bottled water can get it at the Harriston fire hall.

Clean up underway

Weather forecasts had called for 40 millimetres of rain to fall Thursday to Friday, but the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority said rainfall amounts were more than double that between 110 mm and 170 mm over a eight-hour period.

"Flood forecasting data is showing that the North Maitland River watershed is experiencing a one-in-100 year flood event," the authority said on its Facebook page.

Minto Mayor George Bridge declared a state of emergencyFriday morning.

Residents spent the weekend cleaning up after heavy rains led to flooding, which meant many had to leave their homes. One trailer park and several homes near the river were evacuated due to high waters.

Wellington county opened three waste facilities from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday for flood damaged items only.

Some rural roads remain impassable or have been damaged and will need to be repaired before they are reopened.