YELLOWKNIFE (October 29, 2026) - The Chief Environmental Health Officer is advising residents of Sambaa K’e that the precautionary Drinking Water Advisory issued on September 16, 2026, has been lifted.
Residents who receive water from the Community Government of Sambaa K’e were advised to not drink tap water after microcystin (cyanotoxin) was detected in the community’s drinking water while using a rapid test strip.
There have been no illnesses associated with drinking water reported in the community.
The Community Government of Sambaa K’e, with support from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, has completed the necessary work to address the issue. The water treatment plant is now functioning normally, and community-wide cleaning and disinfection of the water-holding tanks has been completed. The precautionary Drinking Water Advisory has now been lifted. Normal use of drinking water may resume.
The Department of Health and Social Services recommends that residents and businesses flush their water supply by doing the following:
- Run all cold water faucets and drinking fountains for 1 minute before use;
- Flush and clean all water-using equipment, such as soda fountains, coffee makers and ice-making machines, for at least 1 minute;
- Change all point of use filters (tap mounted carbon filters, Brita filters, etc.);
- Flush and clean all coffee machines;
- Drain and flush all ice-making machines;
- Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle;
- Drain and refill hot water heaters; and
- Drain and clean water-holding tanks.
Information and a video on how to drain and clean water-holding tanks are available at https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/drinking-water-quality.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Wind
Manager Communications
Health and Social Services
HSSMedia@gov.nt.ca