Sally Ann responds to Winnipeg boil water advisory

Featured image: Golden West Centennial Lodge Support Services Manager Barry Doran receives a bottled water delivery from Debbie Clarke, The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services Director, Prairie Division East

WINNIPEG, MB – On Tuesday, January 27th, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority issued a boil water advisory for all of the city’s nearly 700,000 residents.

A press release from the WRHA listed the reason for the advisory as “a precautionary measure as a result of two clusters of positive results involving the presence of E. coli, received earlier today.”

By the time the advisory was expanded to the entire city, The Salvation Army’s Winnipeg Booth Centre shelter kitchen was already closed, but evening staff were quick to alert residents about the possible threat. Water was boiled and stored for the clients overnight use. A boiled water supply was made available at the front desk for residents, staff and visitors and will continue to be available until the the advisory is lifted. This was augmented in the morning by stocks of bottled water.

Four-litre jugs of distilled water were given out to people in the community making use of the weekly Hallway Ministry at The Salvation Army Weetamah on Logan Avenue in the inner city, ensuring those in the area had safe drinking water for their families.

Cases of water were delivered to Golden West Centennial Lodge as well. The long-term care home on the west side of the city received cases of water, helping staff there in their ongoing commitment to delivering quality care to their residents.

Photo: Brenden Roemich, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, The Salvation Army Prairie East, unpacks cases of bottled water at Weetamah Centre in Winnipeg’s inner city.