Health officials have issued a boil water order for a business in Rocky View County, southeast of Airdrie, near Chestermere, after water tests detected bacterial contamination.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) issued the order to Las Tortillas Inc. and its owner, Jose Ricardo Rodriguez Cota, following inspections of the property’s drinking water supply at 16 Northglen Bay. According to Google's business directory, the premises are described as a manufacturer.
According to AHS, a sample taken on Feb. 5 detected total coliform bacteria, which can indicate the presence of harmful microorganisms. A second sample on Feb. 10 confirmed contamination, showing eight coliforms per 100 mL.
Under Alberta’s Nuisance and General Sanitation Regulation, businesses providing water for public consumption must ensure it is potable. AHS stated that the test results confirmed a violation of Section 11, which requires that any water supplied for public use be safe to drink. As a result, the water supply has been declared unfit for human consumption.
As part of the order, Las Tortillas must:
- Notify all staff and customers of the advisory.
- Post warning signs near all accessible water fixtures.
- Provide potable or properly boiled water for drinking, cooking and sanitation.
- Ensure all food preparation uses safe water.
- Sanitize all utensils, counters and food-contact surfaces using an approved disinfecting process.
- Provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60 per cent alcohol) at all handwashing stations.
The owners must also assess its water system to identify possible contamination sources and complete any necessary maintenance. One option outlined in the order is to install a water treatment system capable of treating groundwater influenced by surface water contamination.
After completing these steps, Las Tortillas must submit water samples to AHS to confirm the supply is safe.
While some of the corrective actions must be completed immediately, AHS has given the company until March 12 to assess and fix the underlying issue with its water system. The boil water order will remain in place until the company complies and subsequent testing confirms the water meets safety standards.
AHS is reminding residents and businesses under boil water advisories to boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or washing food.
Las Tortillas has the right to appeal the order to the Public Health Appeal Board within 10 days. Appeals can be submitted through Alberta’s official process by contacting the board at its Edmonton office.
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