The following information is especially important for people who draw their water from creeks, rivers and lakes that have become turbid (dirty) from high flood levels.

• Cloudy water is unsafe to drink unless it has been boiled. Turbidity in the water impairs the ability of chlorine, bleach, or ultra-violet light (UV) to effectively disinfect the water to the point it is safe to drink.
• Boiled water is safe to drink even if it still appears cloudy or dirty. Turbidity can be reduced if the boiled water is left to stand overnight in a refrigerator. The clearer water can then be poured through a clean coffee filter or decanted off the top leaving the sediment at the bottom.
• If you are unable to boil water, you should use commercially available bottled water as an alternative water source, or clear tap water from a safe, potable water system not under a boil water notice.

HealthLink BC has more information on disinfecting drinking water.