Manitoba’s town of Virden turns to an old aquifer amid a water shortage, triggering arsenic warnings and public concern over drinking water safety.
Amid Shortage, Virden Turns to Old Water Source
The town of Virden, Manitoba, population about 3,000, is under a drinking water advisory after officials were forced to reactivate an old aquifer known to have high arsenic levels.
The advisory, issued October 19, followed an emergency switch when the town’s primary aquifer—developed in 2021—reached critically low levels earlier in the month.
Aquifer Levels Drop, Triggering Emergency Measures
On October 10, the municipality asked residents to conserve water as supply from the 2021 aquifer fell to “seriously low” levels.
With storage nearly depleted, town engineers brought two older wells back online. However, historic testing showed that this aquifer previously exceeded Health Canada’s drinking water guideline for arsenic—0.01 milligrams per litre.
Public Health Concerns and Advisory Details
Tests are ongoing to determine whether the town’s reverse osmosis and greensand filtration systems can bring arsenic levels below safety limits.
The advisory warns that long-term exposure to arsenic above the guideline may increase the risk of certain cancers.
Residents have been urged to use bottled water for drinking, cooking, and baby formula preparation. Officials also emphasized that boiling water may increase arsenic concentration, making it unsafe for consumption.
Residents Voice Frustration and Fear
Local resident Kathy Heaman said many are “frustrated and looking for answers,” noting that bottled water shelves have emptied quickly.
Another resident, Jennifer Ritchie, said she’s buying bottled water for her son, citing family cancer history.
Meanwhile, John Hipwell, whose private well ran dry after the town tapped into the 2021 aquifer, believes the municipality “ignored warnings about sustainability.” He said his property’s groundwater dropped nearly a metre in three months and eventually ran dry, costing him $40,000 to dig a new well.
Provincial Agencies Coordinate Response
A Manitoba Water Services Board spokesperson said provincial experts are working with the town to identify a safe and sustainable alternative.
For now, one pre-existing well is being used while a replacement well is drilled. Oversight comes from Environment and Climate Change Manitoba and Manitoba Health, which continue testing treated water samples before any advisory changes.
Officials stated the town’s water team is “well trained” in municipal operations but lacks expertise in groundwater and aquifer management, prompting the need for provincial guidance.
Transparency and Accountability Moving Forward
Nursery school operator Frances Lansing commended the town’s communication efforts but said she has long relied on bottled water for children in her care.
Some residents argue that earlier water restrictions could have slowed the depletion. Hipwell said the town “should have banned sprinklers and car washing months ago.”
Mayor Tina Williams was unavailable for comment but previously confirmed that the new wells “may not be a permanent fix.”
Sustainability Questions Remain
A 2020 study by W.L. Gibbons and Associates warned of limited recharge capacity in Virden’s groundwater system—an issue that appears to have materialized sooner than expected.
Experts say the town’s experience highlights a broader challenge across rural Manitoba: balancing water security with contamination risks in aging aquifer systems.
Until test results confirm the treated water meets safety standards, Virden’s precautionary advisory will remain in effect, leaving residents to rely on bottled water and uncertainty about their town’s long-term water future.
