Saint John residents told to boil water again

The boil water order in Saint John is back on again.

City officials lifted the boil order briefly on Monday afternoon but almost 56 millimetres of rain has again caused concerns about the southern New Brunswick city's water supply and the order was reinstated Monday night.

"While the latest lab results demonstrate the water is safe to drink, the rise in turbidity levels this evening means that we cannot ensure the safety of the drinking water for the public," said a news release issued by Saint John Water.

Approximately 40,000 residents living east of the Reversing Falls Bridge are being asked to boil water that will be used for drinking, brushing teeth, making ice or drinks and washing vegetables.

The boil order was initially placed on Thursday after 70 millimetres of rain created flooding and stirred up sediment in the lake that serves as a reservoir.

The city is not yet projecting when the order will be lifted.