Thousands of residents in Saskatoon’s northeast who were under a drinking water advisory for four days are now clear to drink tap water without first boiling it.

At 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon the advisory was lifted for all six affected neighbourhoods (Arbor Creek, Erindale, Evergreen, Forest Grove, University Heights and Willowgrove), with one exception.

About 150 homes in the Pohorecky area of Evergreen (including the Bay, Cove, Crescent, Court, Lane, Place, Rise, Street Terrace and Way) will remain under the advisory until further flushing of the system produced water samples that meet satisfactory standards, the city said in a news release.

“After repeated flushing of the distribution system, water samples taken on Pohorecky Drive in Evergreen tested positive for a bacterial growth that we don’t like to see in drinking water,” acting director of public works Trent Schmidt said in the written news release. “While it is not a serious threat to public health, we maintain high quality standards for public consumption and any level is unacceptable.”

The city said it hopes to have the advisory lifted in that area by Saturday. One of the public water fill stations that was set up by the city will be moved to the Pohorecky area, the city said at a news conference.

All other affected residents can begin using their tap water as normal after completing the following steps outlined by the city:

  • Run cold water faucets and drinking fountains for at least one minute before using the water
  • Drain and flush the ice-making system in your refrigerator
  • Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle
  • Drain and refill hot water heaters set below 45°C (normal setting is 60°C)

A drinking water advisory was issued Monday afternoon after a SaskPower employee punctured a 42 inch primary water main at McOrmand Drive and Fedoruk Road while working on an underground boring operation.

Residents were asked to boil water before consuming it, or get water from public fill stations or family and friends.

The project has since been put on hold while both SaskPower and the city investigate the incident.