Water Advisory Issued for Teepee Creek

Water Advisory Issued for Teepee Creek

Under direction from Alberta Health Services (AHS), the County of Grande Prairie is advising all residents of the Hamlet of Teepee Creek that they should not drink the community’s tap water due to high levels of manganese caused by a failure of the water filtration system.

According to the Government of Canada, manganese is an essential nutrient found naturally in the environment. Although humans need to consume small amounts of manganese to be healthy, too much manganese in drinking water can lead to some adverse health effects. 

Health effects of manganese in drinking water:

• Drinking water that contains high levels of manganese can be a health risk to infants.
• Formula-fed infants may be especially at risk if the water used to prepare the formula contains levels above the guideline value.

Recommendations:

• The water is not safe for cooking or drinking and cannot be boiled.
• Infants, children under five, and pregnant women should use bottled water for drinking and
  preparing baby formula, food, hot and cold beverages and ice cubes.
• Adults and older children are at a lower risk but should still take precautions.
• Manganese does not enter the body through the skin or by breathing vapors. Everyone can use tap water for showering, bathing, and washing, but infants and children under five should avoid swallowing the water.

The County is currently working to secure safe, potable water for the community while water filtration system repairs are being completed. Residents will be notified when potable water becomes available, and again when the community’s drinking water is restored to safe manganese levels.

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Media Contact: 
Dalen Peterson
Director, Municipal Utilities, Transportation and Utilities
780-532-9842, ext. 3212