The call came while I was preparing dinner. “Amara, we need you in Verner by morning,” my editor said. “There’s a drinking water advisory. Sounds like it could be serious.”
I arrived in Verner just after dawn, the small Franco-Ontarian community still waking up as residents faced their first full day without safe tap water. The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit had issued an urgent “do not consume” advisory the previous afternoon after routine testing detected what officials described as an “unknown contaminant” in the municipal water system.
Outside the community center, Municipality of West Nipissing staff were distributing bottled water to a growing line of residents. Among them was Marie Lachance, 68, who has lived in Verner her entire life.
“This is frightening,” she told me, adjusting her grip on two 24-packs of water. “We’ve had boil water advisories before, but never something where they tell us not to use the water at all.”
The health unit’s warning had been unequivocal: residents connected to the Verner municipal water system should not drink the water, use it for cooking, making infant formula, brushing teeth, or washing fruits and vegetables—even boiling wouldn’t make it safe.
“It’s more than inconvenient, it’s scary,” said Lachance. “They’re not even telling us what’s in the water.”
That lack of information was fueling community anxiety. Health officials had confirmed only that the contaminant wasn’t bacterial—ruling out E. coli or other common microbiological concerns—but declined to speculate further until laboratory testing was complete.
At the municipal office, I spoke with West Nipissing Mayor Kathleen Thorne-Rochon, who emphasized that the advisory was precautionary while they awaited comprehensive test results from the provincial environmental laboratory.
“Public safety is our absolute priority,” Thorne-Rochon said. “We understand this creates significant hardship for residents, especially families with young children and our elderly population. We’re working around the clock with the health unit and the Ministry of the Environment to identify the contaminant and restore safe water service.”
The timing couldn’t have been worse. Verner, a community of approximately 1,100 people, was preparing for its annual agricultural fair the following weekend—an event that typically brings thousands of visitors to the area.
At École élémentaire publique Hélène-Gravel, principal Marc Grégoire showed me how the school had adapted overnight.
“We’ve covered all drinking fountains with plastic bags and warning signs,” Grégoire said, gesturing to a fountain wrapped in red plastic. “We’ve brought in water coolers for the children and staff, and we’re using hand sanitizer for hygiene. Our cafeteria is using bottled water for all food preparation.”
The school had also sent detailed notices to parents explaining safety measures and requesting students bring filled water bottles from home if possible.
“Most of our families are on the municipal system,” Grégoire noted. “They’re dealing with the same challenges at home.”
By mid-morning, I’d observed a community in efficient crisis mode. The local Home Hardware had sold out of water containers. The Tim Hortons was serving coffee made with bottled water. At the Caisse populaire, staff had set up a water station for elderly clients who might struggle to carry heavy water jugs.
Health unit officials confirmed that water samples had been rushed to the Ministry of the Environment’s laboratory in Toronto, with results expected within 24-48 hours. Dr. Carol Zimbalatti, Medical Officer of Health, urged continued caution.
“Until we can identify the specific contaminant, we must maintain these precautions,” Dr. Zimbalatti explained during an impromptu media briefing. “We understand this creates hardship, but potential health risks from consuming contaminated water can include both short and long-term health effects depending on the contaminant and exposure level.”
For vulnerable residents like Gilbert Paquette, 83, who lives alone in an apartment above the town’s former post office, the situation posed particular challenges. When I met him at the water distribution site, volunteers were helping load bottled water into his car.
“I don’t drive much anymore,” Paquette said. “My neighbor is helping me today, but what happens tomorrow? And how do I shower safely? They say don’t get it in your mouth, but at my age, that’s not so easy to control.”
The health unit had advised that adults could shower or bathe with the water as long as they avoided swallowing it, but recommended sponge baths for young children to prevent accidental ingestion.
By afternoon, the municipality had established a hotline for residents with questions or those needing assistance with water delivery. They’d also arranged additional water distribution points at the arena and fire hall to reduce wait times.
Water contamination isn’t uncommon in rural Ontario communities. According to Water Canada, approximately 36 First Nations communities across the province were under long-term drinking water advisories as of early 2023, some lasting years. While Verner’s situation was new and hopefully temporary, it highlighted the fragility of rural water infrastructure.
Environmental advocate Jean-Paul Descôteaux from the Northern Water Protectors noted that many small communities face infrastructure challenges.
“Smaller tax bases mean less money for system upgrades,” Descôteaux explained as we walked along Verner’s main street. “Some of these water systems were built decades ago. Regular maintenance happens, but comprehensive overhauls are expensive.”
As evening approached, I watched volunteers deliver water to the Golden Age Club, where many seniors gather daily for meals and activities. Inside, conversations focused on a single question: what could be in their water?
The reality is that until test results return, uncertainty prevails. The health unit and municipality have committed to complete transparency once they have definitive information.
As I prepared to file this story, Mayor Thorne-Rochon confirmed that emergency management protocols would remain in place “as long as necessary” to ensure all residents have access to safe drinking water.
For now, Verner residents wait—for water test results, for explanations, and for the all-clear that would let them return to the simple luxury of turning on a tap without worry.
