The City of Yellowknife has acknowledged via a Facebook post that some residents are encountering issues with water quality. Currently, the water distribution system has not shown any problems, and all public health testing standards are being met. Residents noticing poor water quality are advised to run their water to cleanse their internal plumbing.
Director of Public Works, Chris Greencorn, explained that the issue is related to switching back from Yellowknife Bay water to river water. There was some existing water in the pipeline during the switch, which had a slight lake taste instead of a river taste. This affected a small section of town, but it should be resolved. Some residents are still experiencing it, and they are being urged to run their water. Greencorn says there are no health concerns, but does confirm a noticeable change in taste and odour.
It’s similar to when they perform a fire hydrant flush as part of the maintenance program. Sometimes, this stirs up sediment in the water mains, and they advise people to run their taps if they notice cloudy water.
Should the problem continue, contact the city at (867) 920-5600. Due to high call volumes, contact details will be recorded, and a callback will be made as soon as capacity permits.
