UPDATE - October 17, 2025
Manitoba Health Environment and Climate Change
DRINKING WATER QUALITY ADVISORY FOR THE VIRDEN PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
Issued by the Medical Officer of Health, Manitoba Health and the Office of Drinking Water, Manitoba Environment and Climate Change
The Town of Virden will be bringing two wells online within an aquifer in which previous testing and historical data indicated the levels of arsenic exceeded the Canadian Drinking Water Guideline of 0.01 mg/L. At this time, it is unknown if treatment will be able to reduce arsenic levels below the health guideline. Therefore, a precautionary water quality advisory is being issued so that water users are aware of the risks and can take action to reduce these risks. The arsenic guideline is based on lifetime exposure (70 years). Drinking this water over long periods of time can slightly increase cancer risk. It is beneficial to try to keep arsenic levels in drinking water as low as possible.
RECOMMENDATIONS
If this is your primary drinking water source, you may wish to reduce the amount of water that you consume from this source. Options include using an alternative water source such as bottled water for drinking, preparing food or beverages, including ice and infant formula.
For more information, please refer to the Manitoba "Arsenic in Manitoba Water Supplies" fact sheet at the link below. Boiling the water will NOT reduce the amount of arsenic in the water and may potentially increase the concentration of arsenic in the water very slightly.
Since exposure is mainly through consuming the water, you can continue to use the water for all other domestic purposes including general cleaning, hand washing, bathing, laundry, washing dishes, etc.
DURATION
You will be notified when testing has confirmed the arsenic levels in the treated water, including whether they meet or exceed the Canadian Drinking Water Guideline.
For more information on arsenic in drinking water supplies, please see the fact sheet "Arsenic in Manitoba Water Supplies" available on-line at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/pubs/water/drinking_water/factsheet_arsenic.pdf
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Town of Virden at 204-748-2440, or the Regional Drinking Water Officer at 204-724-0685, or Health Links at 204-788-8200 (toll free at 1-888-315-9257).
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UPDATE - OCTOBER 17
WATER CONSERVATION NOTICE
The Town of Virden is asking all residents and business owners to conserve water as much as possible until advised otherwise.
The Town of Virden and the Manitoba Water Services Board “MWSB” continue to work together to ensure uninterrupted water supply to the Town. Due to new data received today regarding the levels of the water supply wells currently in use, the transition to the previously used aquifer, using one of the operating production wells, could occur as early as Monday afternoon or Tuesday
As of today, water for the Town is still being provided from the 2021 aquifer. This water source is safe, meeting provincial standards and Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines. Results provided to the Town and MWSB, from a more recent investigation of the aquifer, indicates that this aquifer does not have the capacity to meet the needs of the Town. As a result of this newly acquired information and the sharply declining levels in both production wells, and surrounding private wells, the decision was made to move back to the previously used aquifer as quick as possible. Unfortunately, the newly drilled well is not expected to be in production until the week of October 27th, barring any unforeseen complications.
The Province will be issuing a precautionary Water Quality Advisory 24 hours prior to the transition to the old aquifer taking place, due to historical arsenic levels at this source. Links to information regarding arsenic levels in drinking water will be provided with that notice. Residents will be informed of the water quality results from this site as soon as they are available. The Project Team will be ensuring that these results are expedited and shared with the community and the Province, as soon as they are available.
The Office of Drinking Water, Manitoba Health, Prairie Mountain Health along with other Provincial Departments, are in constant communication with the Town. All representatives from these departments recognize the critical nature of this matter and are working with the Town and MWSB to ensure all permits and applications are expedited. The decision to move back to the previously used aquifer and commence construction of a new well was thoroughly vetted by the expert advisors from these departments.
Friesen Drilling Ltd. and Associated Engineering, working with the Town and MWSB, have made this project a top priority, with FDL having already commenced the installation of the new well as of October 15. While the installation of the well is occurring, the “Project Team” are working to upgrade the pumphouse, installing connections to the new well, and ensuring the Water Treatment Plant processes can be adjusted and all controls are in place for when the transition to the new well occurs.
Estimated costs for this emergency project could be as high as $500,000 with the Town and MWSB agreeing to a 50-50 cost sharing. The Town’s portion of the project will be paid through funds received from the Canada Community Building Fund, previously known as the Gas Tax Fund, and not municipal taxation.
On behalf of Mayor Williams and the Council of the Town of Virden, thank you for your cooperation and know they are committed to providing updates to the community as soon as more information is known by the expert advisors.
Please contact Mayor Tina Williams at t.williams@virden.ca or CAO Rhonda Stewart at cao@virden.ca for further questions.
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PUBLIC NOTICE - Update - October 10, 2025
In light of the recent news regarding the need for the Town of Virden to move off of our current aquifer due to a low supply of water, the Town is asking all citizens and businesses to assist us through this transition, and limit their water use, where possible. Thank you for your understanding.