While the situation has improved somewhat, the number of municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador that are under boil water advisories remains high.

Craig Pollett, the CEO of Municipalities NL, says most of the province’s municipalities are under boil water advisories.

At any given time, the province has between 130 to 140 boil water advisories from among a total of 275 municipalities. “That number used to be much higher,” says Pollett, “closer to 180 to 200.” While things have changed a little bit, “that’s still too high a number.”

Pollett says making federal-provincial infrastructure money for drinking water more affordable has helped, but new approaches need to be taken to improve the situation.

Mechanical issues and equipment failure are the leading causes of boil-water advisories. Pollett suggests more of a regional approach to developing municipal infrastructure.

A group of municipalities within a regional system would better be able to afford a trained, certified drinking water operator, as well as required chemicals and equipment. The key, says Pollett, is to have a province-wide mechanism for that to happen.