Greater Vancouver boil water advisory.
As I’m sure you’ve noticed the tap water in vancouver is running a murky yellowish brown right now, so there is a boil water advisory in effect. This means any water you consume should be fancy expensive bottled water, or cheap tap water that you have boiled to avoid risk of gastro-intestinal illness.
VHB has this topic covered with a request that comments stay on the topic of water and remain free of unsubstantiated rumours.
I’d like to stake my claim as the irresponsible vancouver real-estate blogger, so post info, conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated rumours below.
Just keep it cleaner than the water.
Story in the Sun
November 21st, 2006 at 10:22 pm
Freako: I don't recall vancouver having this problem ten years ago. I would be suprised if they wouldn't have posted a boil-water advisory at that time under the same circumstances.Actually, the quote I saw says exactly that. Recent studies linked the turbidity with increased gastrointestinal disease.
November 21st, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Freako: I don't recall vancouver having this problem ten years ago. I would be suprised if they wouldn't have posted a boil-water advisory at that time under the same circumstances.It's not that the water will kill you, I think its just CYA safety stuff from the city so nobody can sue them if they feel a little nauseous this winter.
November 20th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
"True, but the risk of getting the squits from these activities is negligble. "An accident or near accident can do the same."Its like we western folk have more squirrelyness around "purity" and "taint" than high-caste brahmins. "Yes, our fear of germs and the like was strongly promoted by P&G and friends, to the point where the the word "bacteria" invokes fear.There are many generalizations in that in this mold.bacteria – badradiation -very badchemicals -bad (especially dihydrogenoxide)debt -badrenting -badThere may be side effects of our excessive cleanliness, such as asthma, Chron's and other autoimmune diseases."I've been using tap water for toothbrushing, coffee, and the occasional swig. "From what I gather, ten years ago no alert would have been issued. However, studies have found that during times of high turbidity, the number of people who get the sh*ts is up, suggesting that the filtering process is compromised. The risks are at the margin, likely only affect those with compromised immune systems. The rest would never know the difference (other than taste and appearance).
November 20th, 2006 at 9:53 am
"The risk of death from car accident or cancer sticks is orders of magnitude higher than some water issue."True, but the risk of getting the squits from these activities is negligble. Its like we western folk have more squirrelyness around "purity" and "taint" than high-caste brahmins. Saw a woman last night fish through her purse to find a hanky to insert between her hand and the handle of the door of the store she wanted to enter. Strange. I've been using tap water for toothbrushing, coffee, and the occasional swig. No ill effects. Though thankfully my beer reserves were fairly robust (until late in the 3rd quarter of the Game, that is, when there was a bit of a spike in demand).
November 19th, 2006 at 11:50 pm
how about collecting fresh rainwater..???
November 19th, 2006 at 9:19 am
"So the brown water won't kill me. But why shouldn't I prefer the non-brown bottled stuff, if only for taste? I don't think you need to give people guff about that."I didn't say that there is anything wrong with prefering bottled water, but I don't think it is worth murdering over.Us humans have difficulty putting risks in perspective. In our rush to beat the other guy to the last bottle of water, we have no issue with driving 85 in a 50 zone, weaving in and out of traffic, while chain smoking.The risk of death from car accident or cancer sticks is orders of magnitude higher than some water issue.Nothing wrong with making a detour to pick up a jug of water. But to sheer panic over is. I brushed my teeth the other way and my inlaws came running to save me from certain death.Do I have a point? Yes water is on everyones minds at the exclusion of all else. People who don't even drink water are worried about it. A nice parallel to the home owner craze. Must have home now."Perhaps I should throw some dirt in your beer the next time we meet?"Now that is a different story. You don't mess with a man's beer. Put up your dukes!
November 18th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Freako and Andrew:So the brown water won't kill me. But why shouldn't I prefer the non-brown bottled stuff, if only for taste? I don't think you need to give people guff about that.I think it's pretty normal behaviour to want to drink something without dirt in it. Perhaps I should throw some dirt in your beer the next time we meet?VHB
November 18th, 2006 at 3:38 pm
"Can not convince city to serve people clean water without having buy from store.you can not help elders who can't lift up 25 pound can."My question: are all these people incapable of boiling their water? It's not that hard, I was doing that on Thursday night before most people even knew there was a boil water advisory out. After that, while it may look and taste unappealing, it's still perfectly safe to drink – and as someone else pointed out, that's a lot better than what most of the world has.Heck, that's all I was planning on doing, but my wife insisted we get some bottled water. Luckily they happened to put out a pallet when I went to the store at lunch yesterday, so I picked some up. Everyone there was quite orderly, and probably pleasantly surprised at their being bottled water available so late in the day.
November 18th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Is the disc yellow because of the evaporating piss-water in the atmosphere?thrashing in glee,solipsist
November 18th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Freako: I see the yellow disc too.Game over man! Game over!
November 18th, 2006 at 1:03 pm
Sorry man you know english but you can not help people.Can not convince city to serve people clean water without having buy from store.you can not help elders who can't lift up 25 pound can.Well done to avoid issue you thrash writer.Hi kingiii. Great spelling for such mangled grammar. Solipsist, "thrash writer", I like it.This water thing is nuts. Apparently there were fist fights in the lineups in this mad scramble. Jeez. Grown men are fighting over water bottled water even though their "unsafe" water is infinitely better than that which 99% of the world consumes. While we are soaked with rain. Though at the present moment, the sky is blue and there is a strange yellow disc floating in it.
November 18th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
"Anonymous said…'you thrash writer.' 11:03 AM""thrash writer" is someone who wrote gibberish and everyone a headache trying to decipher its meaning.
November 18th, 2006 at 11:44 am
I deserve a good thrashing.
November 18th, 2006 at 11:03 am
"you thrash writer."LOL
November 18th, 2006 at 12:08 am
Sorry man you know english but…Sorry if I offended man. This is a semi-serious blog, and it is an in-joke amongst frequenters of VHB, rireb, etc. I can't check your IP address from here. Or can I?You are absolutely right about the old and feeble.
November 17th, 2006 at 11:34 pm
anon TSUNAMI, try 'English Corner' athttp://tinyurl.com/yzet9yhttp://www.cyber-courier.com/cer/japan/
November 17th, 2006 at 10:15 pm
Is that you kingiii?Yol engrisk has detelioted badry. Folget scleen name? Sorry man you know english but you can not help people.Can not convince city to serve people clean water without having buy from store.you can not help elders who can't lift up 25 pound can.Well done to avoid issue you thrash writer.
November 17th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
Anonymous said… TSUNAMI not thanks godIs that you kingiii?Yol engrisk has detelioted badry. Folget scleen name?
November 17th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
TSUNAMI not thanks god———————-Dear people its a kind of emergency of water got dirty but from rain and flood.Only thing is bad we suppose not to buy water from store its goverments or city of particulars thats the only problem (A)is a rich can buy what ever amount (B)is poor can't even effort going to store.City or government is not taking any responsibility so sad for citizens the only thing is canada is bussiness prone country nothing come free a person should be insured/covered by some policy and procedure otherwise be ready to die thanks seriously hands in my pocket no money there stand in a line long Q
November 17th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
Murky water. Cam Muir going to BCREA. Coincidence? I smell a cryptosporidium or two.
November 17th, 2006 at 5:22 pm
Stupidly expensive Rennie Marketed Condo…$600KMonthly Parking Stall Fees…$1504 Bags of overpriced groceries @ IGA…$120.00 Not being able to drink the water in your "world class city"….priceless.
November 17th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
Nah, I just need to find a way to introduce enough reasonable doubt that the fault is entirely mine.Hey, waitaminnit.. Are you blaming me for the turbidity problem?
November 17th, 2006 at 3:44 pm
Yes yes, I'm the responsible older brother and you're the young punk who had a party while the parents went away for a weekend and some friend of that guy who was dating your friend's ex girlfriend invited these other guys over and trashed the place and now you don't know what to do except that you wish you were more like your older responsible brother oh crap.
November 17th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
2 WEEKS?!?!Agh. How often does this happen in other cities. Its disgusting, I've just about had it with this town, I'm going to move somewhere sunny and warm.
November 17th, 2006 at 11:47 am
If you boil the water it kind of looks like coffee. Does anyone know whats actually in the water, or are they just issuing the boil water advisory to be safe?
November 17th, 2006 at 11:34 am
my water is really, really brown. I swear it has twigs in it…is that even possible?If you are interested, there is a poll about the water and people in vancouver are sharing stories about this crisis on ChangeEverythingi am very interested to see how people cope, they say this could go on for several weeks….. no Starbubbles for 2 weeks?????
November 17th, 2006 at 11:22 am
Hahahahaha, that's gold Jerry.
November 17th, 2006 at 10:56 am
Maybe your coworker thought you were coming on to him/her.
November 17th, 2006 at 10:52 am
Does anyone know what the poo volume in the water is right now? Should we avoid showering?Apparently my co-worker thinks so.
November 17th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Mwah-ha-hah-hah! I have coffee! I have the great fortune of having access to an espresso machine running off bottled water. Oh, sweet sweet caffeine.Why does starbucks not use bottled water? Cheap buggers.
November 17th, 2006 at 10:28 am
…need….coffee…Starbucks Closed! The horror! The horror!(How can we claim to be world class when caffeine supply can be disrupted so easily!)
November 17th, 2006 at 10:12 am
Incidentaly, I heard that the water is filled with bear poo washing down from the mountains, and that the heavy rains were intentionally started in a nefarious plot hatched by a certain Mr. Muir and Mr. Rennie to deprive Vancouverites of their coffee keeping them docile, unaware and seeking shelter at any price.But thats just what I heard.