Boil Water Advisory – Rainbow Schools Information

May 6, 2026

Dear Parents/Guardians:

As a result of adverse water samples reported today, Public Health Sudbury & Districts has issued a boil water advisory effective immediately for all residents of Sudbury and New Sudbury, as well as Falconbridge.

If possible, we encourage students to bring bottled or boiled water to school for hydration. We ask students to please NOT fill a water bottle with tap water from home in the affected areas.

School fountains will be closed.

Facilities staff will deliver drinking water to schools, however, the supply will be limited given the extensive coverage area of the boil water advisory.

Any food preparation requiring water is discontinued until the boil water advisory is lifted.

School cafeterias in the affected schools (including Lockerby Composite School) will be closed.

Students are asked to bring their own lunches to school.

The Student Senate Conference at Collège Boréal in Sudbury will proceed as scheduled. Bottled water and juice boxes will be available. Food will adhere to the safety guidelines.

Below is the posted the notice from Public Health below, which provides additional information.

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The following other areas are not affected: Copper Cliff, Coniston, Walden, Garson, Val Caron and area, Azilda, Chelmsford, Dowling, Skead, and Onaping.

“The cause of the adverse samples is being investigated, and this boil water advisory is in effect as a precaution. We don’t believe that anyone who has consumed the water will experience any ill health effects,” said Burgess Hawkins, a manager in Public Health’s Health Protection Division.

Operators with the City of Greater Sudbury have started taking additional water samples for water that comes from the David Street Water Treatment Plant and from the Falconbridge Water Treatment Plant. Updates on the situation will be shared as additional information is known.

A boil water advisory means that people who take their water from the municipal system should NOT use it for drinking; making juice, infant formula, or ice; cooking; washing uncooked fruit and vegetables; or brushing teeth unless water is brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute prior to use.

For these purposes, water from an alternate source, such as bottled water, should be used. The water can be used for laundry and bathing (excluding small children who could swallow the water). For more information download our fact sheet (PDF, https://www.phsd.ca/…/2026/05/BWA_Factsheet_EN-1.pdf).

Food premises are required to close or operate in a limited capacity as outlined in the Guidelines for Retail Food Service Establishments and Supermarkets (PDF, https://www.phsd.ca/…/BWA_Guidelines_for_Retail_Food…).

Until bacteriological testing of the drinking water indicates a safe supply, the boil water advisory will remain in effect as a precaution.

Public Health staff will continue to monitor the situation and will notify the municipality when the boil water advisory is lifted, and residents will be advised.

For more information, please call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, toll-free 1.866.522.9200 or visit www.phsd.ca.