January 23 UPDATE: The maintenance work at the Drinking Water Treatment Plant has been completed.

Testing is now underway to ensure drinking water safety. The BWA will remain on until we are notified by the PUC. 

Please check back here for updates. Signs will also be removed from the roadsides when the BWA is removed. 

The PUC will be replacing pumps at the Water Treatment Plant.  In order for the work to be completed, the water supply must be shut off for a short period of time and a boil water advisory will be put in place until testing can be completed to ensure safety.

WHERE YOU CAN CHECK FOR UPDATES ON THE BWA STATUS

• www.stjospephtownship.com
• Township of St. Joseph Facebook pages
• Boil Water Advisory Signs on roadways will be removed when the BWA is lifted.
• If you have provided your email previously for boil water advisory alerts, an email will be sent upon the end of the BWA. 

*If you wish to be notified by email and have not previously provided contact information, please email to [email protected].*

HOW YOU CAN PREPARE BEFORE THE BWA

• The water system will be shut down completely for 2-3 hours during the night of January 22^nd.  Have buckets of water on hand incase needed for flushing the toilet, etc. during the night.
• Users are encouraged to avoid/conserve water usage from 10:00 p.m. on January 24^th to 3:00 a.m. on January 25^th while work is being completed.
• Fill potable water safe containers with tap water before the start of the BWA for drinking, brushing teeth, etc. for use during the BWA.

WHAT TO DO DURING THE BWA

Between 10:00 p.m. on Monday January 22^nd and the end of the BWA, tap water must be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute before use, OR an alternative water source (e.g., commercially bottled water) may be used for any of the following:

• Drinking,
• Brushing teeth,
• Making infant formula, ice, tea, coffee, drink mixes, puddings, Jello, etc.,
• Washing fruits or vegetables.

* Do not use auto-shutoff kettles or coffee makers as they may not reach a boil time of one minute*

*INSTRCTIONS FOR COMMON DAILY ACTIVITIES CAN BE FOUND ON THE REVERSE OF THIS NOTICE*

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMMON DAILY ACTIVITIES

Washing Dishes:

• Household dishwashers must be set to sanitize mode.
• If washing dishes by hand:
  • wash dishes with soap and hot water
  • rinse dishes with hot water
  • sanitize dishes by submerging in hot water mixed with unscented household bleach (1/2 tsp of bleach per 1 L of water) for 1 minute.
  • let air dry

*Other option: use single-use disposable dishes/utensils during this time*

Hand Washing:

• Wash as normal using tap water and a proper handwashing technique.
• After washing hands, use an alcohol-based hand gel disinfectant containing at least 70% alcohol.

Bathing:

• Adults, adolescents, and older children may shower, bathe, or wash using tap water, but should avoid swallowing the water.
• Infants, toddlers, and immunocompromised individuals should be sponge bathed to reduce the chance of swallowing the water.

For more information, please contact Algoma Public Health at 705-759-5286 or

the Township of St. Joseph at 705-246-2625