A drinking water advisory in Canada is a public health notice issued when the local water supply is unsafe to consume or use due to contamination. These advisories can take different forms:

• Boil Water Advisory: Issued when there are problems with the water treatment system, or when testing has confirmed there are disease-causing viruses, bacteria, or parasites present in the water. Under this advisory, people are advised to boil their water for at least one minute to kill any germs before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or washing food.

• Do Not Consume Advisory: Issued when the water contains chemical contaminants, making it unsafe to drink even if boiled. Water can still be used for bathing and cleaning, but not for drinking or cooking.

• Do Not Use Advisory: The most severe, issued when the water is unsafe for any use, including bathing, due to harmful contaminants like chemicals or toxins.

In Canada, there are 31 long-term drinking water advisories present in 29 First Nations communities.

*Sources:

https://www.indigenouswatchdog.org/subcategory/drinking-water-advisories/

https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1538160229321/1538160276874