Kitimat’s water quality advisory, which had been in place since May 29 due to elevated sediment levels in the Kitimat River, was lifted at 3 p.m. on June 5.
The advisory had been issued after increased turbidity was detected in the river, likely caused by unsettled weather and snowmelt runoff. These conditions contributed to runoff from higher elevations, affecting the effectiveness of water treatment processes.
During the advisory, Northern Health recommended that vulnerable individuals, including young children, pregnant people, older adults and those with weakened immune systems, boil their drinking water. This precaution is no longer required.
Water quality advisories are triggered when there is a measurable change in water characteristics that could pose a low health risk, particularly to those with compromised immune systems. They are different from boil water notices, which signal higher health risks and require all users to boil water before use.
Water advisories occur regularly in Kitimat. In response, the district is developing a $24.4 million water treatment plant. The new facility will be built on municipally owned land above the 200-year flood level and is intended to improve resilience, increase treatment capacity and support future population growth.
