The Onion Lake Cree Nation Health Centre has put out a do not consume water advisory for the area.
This is due to elevated manganese in the water. This is on water from the Onion Lake Water Treatment Plant system, with First Nation and Inuit Health says this is a precautionary measure that applies to infants and breast feeding or pregnant women.
People pregnant, breastfeeding or preparing food or drink for infants are told to use approved bottled water for:
- Drinking, preparing food or cooking
- Brushing teeth
- Washing produce
- Making baby formula
- making ice
In addition, they say that adults, teens and older children can wash using the water but should not swallow it.
Young children and infants should be sponge washed instead.
Dishes and laundry can be washed in the tap’s water either by hand or machine, but dishes should be rinsed in a sink full of water, with a tablespoon of bleach mixed in.
The advisory remains in effect until the distributed water can be confirmed safe, something the OLCN Health Centre says is being worked on by Chief and Council right now.