South Slave water advisory believed related to organics getting into the system

A drinking water advisory issued in parts of the N.W.T.'s South Slave this week may be related to low water levels in the region, officials say.

Glenn Smith, senior administrative officer with the Town of Hay River, said the town's water treatment plant could be taking in more organics like leaves, algae and soil, because of the low water.

Officials believe chlorine reacting with those organics are responsible for elevated levels of disinfection byproducts called trihalomethanes (THMs), which prompted the water advisory.

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On Monday, the N.W.T.’s chief public health officer issued the advisory warning residents in Hay River, Enterprise, Kátł'odeeche First Nation and Kakisa of THMs in the water.

THMs can form when chlorine, which