Tonight, the Medical Officer of Health, Manitoba Health and the Office of Drinking Water issued a precautionary localized boil water advisory for some parts of the City of Winnipeg. In an abundance of caution, the City of Winnipeg has decided to proactively issue a precautionary boil water advisory for the entire City of Winnipeg.

The precautionary advisory was issued because test results from Monday, January 26, 2015, tested positive for the presence of E. coli in City’s water supply.

Until further notice, staff and students should use boiled tap water that has cooled, or bottled water for:

• drinking and making ice
• preparing beverages, including infant formula
• preparing food
• brushing teeth

This advisory will affect the following services at all of Red River College’s Winnipeg Campuses.

• Food services will be limited at all sites and staff and students are encouraged to bring their own hot beverages tomorrow morning.
• Staff at PGI will provide bottled water for residents and will provide a limited breakfast to the residents tomorrow morning.
• Classes at PGI will not be affected but food services will be limited for the day.
• As a precaution Jane’s will be closed on Wednesday, January 28, 2015.
• Water fountains and bottle filling stations will be turned off and unavailable.

Bottled water will also be available for purchase from food services, The Ox, Mercantile, and College vending machines.

Staff and students are encouraged to read the Precautionary Measures During a Boil Water Advisory, and are also encouraged to advise friends and family who may not be aware of this advisory.

The City of Winnipeg will be providing regular updates at www.winnipeg.ca and will be re-evaluating the water quality tomorrow afternoon. Once the City of Winnipeg has provided an update, we will provide further direction for all College staff and students.

If you have any questions please contact David Clarke, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at 204-632-3075 or daclarke@rrc.ca.