VANCOUVER - More than a million Vancouver-area residents got the OK on Monday to drink their tap water without boiling it, but found themselves worrying about a rare heavy snowstorm and a cold snap.
The water from area reservoirs, stirred up by a heavy rain storm that slammed the Pacific Coast on Nov. 16 is still cloudier than usual, but health officials said that testing had found no evidence of health concerns.
About one million people had been under a boil-water advisory.
While heavy winter rains are the norm on British Columbia's southern coast, the area struggles when that moisture turns to snow -- much to the amusement of the rest of Canada where life with snow is part of the national identity.
Up to 50 cm (20 inches) of snow fell in the storm that hit the Vancouver area and southern Vancouver Island on Sunday, fouling the Monday morning commute, toppling trees and knocking out power for more than 90,000 customers.
BC Hydro warned that power interruptions could continue. Temperatures are expected to drop to an unusually chilly -11 Celsius (12 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, making ice blocks out of the heavy, wet snow that has clung to power lines and tree limbs.
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
