This afternoon, Halifax Water submitted its preliminary investigation findings to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) for the January 20-21, 2025, Boil Water Advisory (BWA). This report provides a post-incident review, a sequence of events, preliminary root causes, and corrective measures following the release of unchlorinated water into the distribution system.
The preliminary report provides an overview of the two interruptions to primary chlorine disinfection at the J.D. Kline Water Supply Plant (JDKWSP) within the past year. The findings show that while both events resulted in BWAs, the causes of the interruptions were different.
The July 1, 2024, incident was caused when the electrical safety systems prevented the main emergency generator from activating, and the secondary generator failed. This resulted in a loss of power to the chlorination system.
In contrast, during the January 21, 2025, power outage, the backup generator did engage. However, during the power transfer, the fuses for the service water pumps were blown, which interrupted the chlorine disinfection process.
While all treatment requirements, except for disinfection, were met in both incidents, Halifax Water issued the BWA to protect public health based on regulatory requirements and direction from the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSECC).
“We understand the concern and frustration this situation has caused our customers and the community, and we are deeply sorry for any impact and unease it has caused. Our team is focused on understanding and addressing the root cause to ensure our services meet the highest standards. Regaining public trust will take time, and we are committed to putting in the effort required,” said Kenda MacKenzie, General Manager and CEO of Halifax Water.
Today’s report outlines 14 preliminary corrective measures for the January 20-21, 2025, BWA. This includes attachments to the report from the July 1 incident and an update on the status of the 16 corrective actions, including commissioning an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) at JDKWSP on January 27, 2025.
Halifax Water has provided a copy of the report to the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Halifax Regional Council. It is also available here.
A final report on the January incident will be submitted to the NSUARB on March 21, 2025.