EMERGENCY ‘ISSUE’ WITH WATER QUALITY IN GRAVENHURST MAY BE SHORT-LIVED — TESTING UNDERWAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — This morning’s water scare in Gravenhurst that sent a mild panic throughout the town may be resolved early this afternoon — or it could take longer and the district is looking at bringing in a temporary water reserve for residents to get safe water.

Town CEO Scott Lucas says there was an “issue” with the water quality and internal testing is underway by District of Muskoka staff who operate local water and sewer supply.

He said they are also looking at third party testing as well.

But, he said it may not be a “big problem, we hope.

“We’re doing it out of an abundance of safety,” he said after being in contact with the district and public health.

And that the District of Muskoka water pollution plant on the Beach Road may be back up and running soon.

Water throughout town was down to a trickle in some locations with water pressure barely enough to get a dribble out of a tap.

Lucas said a public update is expected about noon.

Meanwhile residents were out immediately running around looking for water after being told by the district at 7 a.m. “not to drink or boil water.”

When Terry’s YIG opened at 7 a.m. residents rushed in and cleaned out his entire inventory by 9:30 a.m.

Terry Cadow said he went through “hundreds” of cases and skids of water.

And he won’t be getting any more water today.

Speaking to him near the empty shelves, he said he just got off the phone with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit who told him to maintain pandemic protocols and not use the water.

A checkout clerk at the grocery store said they were run off their feet for a couple of hours as panicked people bought bottles large and small.

A worker at the district’s Gravenhurst pollution centre on the Beach Road said this morning staff were working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
A run on water at the YIG this morning by Gravenhurst residents left store clerk with only empty bottles on the shelf.
YIG store owner Terry Cadow said they ran out of water at 9:30 a.m. and he said he won’t be getting in any more today.

EMAIL: [email protected]

28 years of ‘Local Online Journalism’

Twitter: @muskokatoday, Facebook: mclairmont1

Leave comments at end of story

SUBSCRIBE for $25 by e-transferring to [email protected]

Or go online to https://muskokatoday.com/subscriptions