St. Stephen boil water order continues

St. Stephen’s boil water order remains in effect as crews work to stabilize the community’s drinking water system.

In an update issued Monday, the Municipal District of St. Stephen reported that water at the Maxwell Crossing pump station is starting to return to normal, but cloudy water and sediment are still moving through the system.

The municipality said the issue began when water moved from Maxwell Crossing through the Valley Road Reservoir and into town, pushing sediment levels above acceptable limits.

Public Works staff are working to prevent further problems, but the municipality said it will take time for the water to settle throughout the system.

Testing cannot begin until sediment levels drop enough to allow accurate results, according to the municipality.

The Department of Health requires several rounds of clean test results, taken over specific timeframes, before the boil order can be lifted.

The municipality also noted that holiday schedules may affect how quickly testing facilities can process samples, making it unclear whether the order could be lifted this week.

The boil water order will stay in place until the issue is resolved.

The Municipal District of St. Stephen said another update will be provided on Wednesday.