Precautionary boil water advisory lifted in Horseshoe Valley

‘The results for microbiological tests all came back clear, with no indication of coliforms (bacteria) in any sample,’ says Clearford official
From OrilliaMatters, Bob Bruton, photo cc

The precautionary boil water advisory has been lifted for users of the Zone 1 Horseshoe Valley Resort private water system in Oro-Medonte Township.

Clearford Waterworks is the water system operations company for this private, non-municipal drinking water system.

“The advisory was lifted on Saturday, as expected,” said John Levie, Clearford’s vice-president of engineering. “The results for microbiological tests all came back clear, with no indication of coliforms (bacteria) in any sample. This was the requirement to have the advisory lifted.”

A water supply disruption caused by a well pump failure led, on Dec. 27, to the precautionary boil water advisory.

“At present, we are still waiting on parts to repair the pump and are filling the tower in batches, and testing/sampling as required under routine operations,” Levie said Monday morning.

Clearford officials were unable to say how many households, or people, the boil water advisory affected.

Once a well pump failure prevented the supply of drinking water, Clearford requested an emergency provision of bulk water in batch volumes from Oro-Medonte Township to supply residents as it further investigated the well pump issue. Once a bulk water supply is established, a precautionary boil water advisory must be declared.

“The water in the system is a bulk purchase supply (from the township),” Levie said. “However, due to the location, it is drawn from and the temporary nature of the connection it is deemed ‘non-potable’ at the source.  It is used to fill the tower on Horseshoe lands and must be tested prior to use.”

Levie said recent brown-outs and power surges, the result of severe weather on the Christmas weekend, damaged the well pump and its electrical components.

In a news release issued the night of Dec. 29, Clearford said it is constantly testing the water, including the chlorine residual, and that there is and always has been adequate chlorine in the water for disinfection.

Clearford has said there has been consultation with Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the local health unit.

Horseshoe Valley Resort Zone 1 water system users should direct all inquiries to Clearford at 1-844-734-2026 or 905-734-2026.
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