Changing water during a boil-water advisory?

[Mark in Vancouver]

Hey folks. Some of the Canadian posters may have heard about the Wet Coast's recent deluge of rain. Now the city has issued a boil-water advisory, and the tap water (normally some of the cleanest and softest in N. America) is cloudy and brown. They say we're not even supposed to brush our teeth or wash vegetables in it. It is due to turbidity in our water shed, up in the mountains.

I went to buy bottled water at the grocery this morning, but every single drop of it had been bought. (I'll have to stick to beer).

Does anyone have any thoughts about whether this water is safe for water changes in the tank? They say we have be under the advisory for weeks. I have 15 gallons of clean water from last week waiting for this week's changes, but I'm a little concerned about using the brown tap water. I imagine more dechlorinator might not be a bad idea.

[Mark in Vancouver]

Oh, and are there any posters from just south of here? I think Seattle and Portland may also be in a similar bind.

[mikev]

I imagine more dechlorinator might not be a bad idea.

Uggh, probably a better idea would be to age the water the old way. If you keep it in a bucket for a day, some of the dirt will hopefully settle down.

(I did this, occasionally this problem occurs here, but never for longer than 1-2 days.)

[Emma Turner]

I think I'd be inclined to go and buy some R.O. water from the lfs for water changes whilst the tap water is in such a bad way. Not worth the risk in my opinion!

Emma

[Kitishane]

I think Shazam is having the same issue, and has been noticing bad reactions in some of her fish.

[newshound]

this is no surpise to me...
when I lived in Van. in Nov '95 the water was an off cream colour because of the mass amounts of rain causing mudslides in the mountains. It rained every day in November except three and it was not like the three days were sunny. Man that place can be a downer in the rainy season. YUK!
anyhow
it will be expensive to do water changes with beer but the fish will be happy.

[shari2]

yuk yuk yuk
How 'bout vodka? It's clear...

[angelfish83]

Ya the higher nitrate level and lack of trace elements youll have by not changing water is healthier than whatever is making your water dirt colored...

[Martin Thoene]

The problem surely is, from a human consumption point of view the turbidity and any micro-organisms that might be included. They'll still be treating it. It's most probably a CYA move by the authorities.

Unless the water tests high for nitrates or whatever, surely you could decant it into a storage container and let it settle? Then take off the clear top water.

The fish in natural river systems are dealing with the runoff right?

Martin.

[Mark in Vancouver]

this is no surpise to me...
when I lived in Van. in Nov '95 the water was an off cream colour because of the mass amounts of rain causing mudslides in the mountains. It rained every day in November except three and it was not like the three days were sunny. Man that place can be a downer in the rainy season. YUK!
anyhow
it will be expensive to do water changes with beer but the fish will be happy.

I deserves to be said that 1995 was the last year there was significant turbidity in the water here. It really is good most of the time. There are three very large reservoirs up in the mountains which, if correctly flushed, can solve the problem. Trouble is we are supposed to get another large storm on Sunday. So even as the water becomes clearer here and the advisory is lifted for half of the 2 million people affected, it'll come back by the end of the weekend.

Everyone panicked here, too. No bottles of water anywhere - gas stations, grocery stores... Starbucks is not serving coffee because they rely on the water supply and don't have means to boil and filter on site.

[angelfish83]

Pshh... Starbucks....

Any place that makes me reword 'MEDIUM COFFEE WITH ONE SUGAR' doesn't get my business very often...

Its not a medium sir- its a tall grande. Tall Grande. No not 'ok' SAY IT! SAY IT DAMN YOU!!!

Then its like three dollars for a coffee... and I'm not even sure if its that good or I'm on a placebo high because they put so much advertising frill around it...

[Mark in Vancouver]

The problem surely is, from a human consumption point of view the turbidity and any micro-organisms that might be included. They'll still be treating it. It's most probably a CYA move by the authorities.

Unless the water tests high for nitrates or whatever, surely you could decant it into a storage container and let it settle? Then take off the clear top water.

The fish in natural river systems are dealing with the runoff right?

Martin.

I think you're right. The turbidity in our case is caused by mudslides into the water shed reservoirs. Most of this can be siphoned off at the lake level by flushing different streams in and out. The concept that it could be a health threat is all about the possibility of particulates in the water that have cracks and pores which MAY harbour biological residue.

So they blast the water with chlorine and it still smells more like dirt than chemicals. But I think for the health of fish, as long as it's dechlorinated and aged and agitated, it should be fine.

Just weird to have to think about drinking water when you're living in a rain forest.

[shari2]

"Water, water, everywhere
and not a drop to drink."

Bring on the beer.

[Mark in Vancouver]

Pshh... Starbucks....

Any place that makes me reword 'MEDIUM COFFEE WITH ONE SUGAR' doesn't get my business very often...

Its not a medium sir- its a tall grande. Tall Grande. No not 'ok' SAY IT! SAY IT DAMN YOU!!!

Then its like three dollars for a coffee... and I'm not even sure if its that good or I'm on a placebo high because they put so much advertising frill around it...

Again we are in agreement - *gasp*. I wouldn't visit a Starbucks to save a friend in peril, but that they stopped serving coffee in the city is indicative of the scale. It was merely meant as a measure of the problem.

[Mark in Vancouver]

"Water, water, everywhere
and not a drop to drink."

Bring on the beer.

Until I can develop a proper and elaborate system to test my theories, the loaches will have to go without beer or single malt. All the more for me.