Republished May 10, 2018 - 9:12 PM
Original Publication Date May 10, 2018 - 7:56 PM
MONTREAL - Officials in Montreal have lifted a water advisory affecting several downtown blocks after a hazardous substance was believed to have entered the water system.
The city said late Thursday that residents in the Ville-Marie district could drink tap water again, except for several addresses where residents were advised to avoid using water except for toilet flushing.
A statement from the city said that after an analysis, "it was concluded that the contamination did not affect the water system."
A Montreal ambulance official, Jean-Francois Coornaert, earlier said firefighters had identified a leak of magnatrol, a biocide used in air conditioning towers to eliminate bacteria, as the reason for the initial order to not use tap water, even when boiled.
Four people had been taken to hospital late Thursday afternoon suffering nausea and diarrhea. Two other residents were treated by paramedics but were not taken to hospital.
The affected area was bordered by Bleury, Beaver Hall, Rene-Levesque and Saint-Antoine streets.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2018