Water advisory lifted in Montreal neighbourhood

MONTREAL — Officials in Montreal have lifted a water advisory affecting several downtown blocks after a hazardous substance was believed to have entered the water system.

The city said late Thursday that residents in the Ville-Marie district could drink tap water again, except for several addresses where residents were advised to avoid using water except for toilet flushing.

A statement from the city said that after an analysis, “it was concluded that the contamination did not affect the water system.”

A Montreal ambulance official, Jean-Francois Coornaert, earlier said firefighters had identified a leak of magnatrol, a biocide used in air conditioning towers to eliminate bacteria, as the reason for the initial order to not use tap water, even when boiled.