The Capital Regional District and Island Health have issued a water advisory for the Wilderness Mountain Service Area in East Sooke due to above normal concentrations of manganese.
The area was already under a boil water advisory, with the latest advisory also affecting the entire service area.
Manganese is naturally occurring through the environment and is often found in surface and groundwater sources. High concentrations of manganese are often a seasonal occurrence, such as the current Wilderness Mountain Service Area case.
The CRD says that consuming small amounts of manganese is essential to maintain personal health and only recently were high levels of manganese in water considered to be a health risk.
Recent science shows that consuming high levels of manganese can result in health issues in infants, according to the regional district. Water will appear brown, purple or black with concentrations of manganese that are below Health Canada’s Maximum Acceptable Concentration levels.
The full advisory as well as more information on manganese is available on the CRD website.
SEE ALSO: Boil water advisory issued for area near Sooke
Cole Sorenson
