Boil water advisory lifted for 4 South Slave communities in the N.W.T.

The Northwest Territorieschief environmental health officer is advising residents of four communities in the South Slave region that they no longer have to boil water before drinking it.

The territorial Health Department said the boil water advisory has been lifted forHay River,K'atl'odeecheFirstNation, Enterprise andKakisa ina news release Tuesday.

Last weekitissued the advisorysaying it was a precaution as the water appeared muddier than usual.

The department said this was the result of the the spring breakup of ice in the river and that turbidity levels have since dropped to acceptable levels in treated water from the water plant.

The department recommends that residents and businesses flush their water supply by running all cold water faucets and drinking fountains for one minute before useand cleaning all water-using equipment like coffee makers and ice-making machines for at least one minute.

It also recommends changingall point-of-use filters,cleaning coffee machines, draining ice-making machines, draining and refilling hot water heaters and clean water-holding tanks. It also says torunwater softeners through a regeneration cycle.

Information on how to drain and clean water-holding tanks can be found on the department'swebsite.