The City of Delta has issued a boil water advisory for Westham Island as the impact of the damage to the bridge that connects the island to the rest of the city becomes clearer. The water main that runs in the Fraser River underneath the Westham Island Bridge has sprung a leak, according to a statement from the city, which said the leak was “identified during assessments of the bridge.” The bridge was struck by a barge on Tuesday and has remained closed to vehicular traffic ever since. There is currently no “reliable timeline” for when the span will reopen, according to TransLink, which owns and maintains the 116-year-old wooden-decked structure. In its statement, Delta did not say whether the leak in the pipe was caused by the barge strike or simply discovered as a result of it. Either way, the city is advising residents of Westham Island to “use only boiled or bottled water for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing ready-to-eat foods, washing dishes or making infant formula.” Delta described its boil water advisory as “a precautionary measure” and said additional water quality testing is being conducted. “At present, there is no confirmed contamination in the water supply,” the city said. It added that bottled water would be brought to the island Friday night for residents to pick up at the foot of their side of the bridge. Located at the mouth of the Fraser River west of Delta, Westham Island is home to major farm businesses, a couple hundred people, and a wildlife conservation area. Farmers on the island have expressed concern about their inability to get their produce to market while the bridge is closed. TransLink says “early estimates” suggest it could take several weeks to repair the bridge and reopen it to vehicles. A longer-term planning process for replacing the bridge is also underway, according to the transit agency. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the vessel strike. In a statement Friday, it identified the tug involved as the Coquitlam-based “Quadrant Partner.”
