Health officials are advising people not to use the lake water South Lake in the Municipality of All the hills Ont., after an oil spill.
Lakelands Public Health says furnace oil was released from a private property over the weekend into the lake, which is just southeast of the village of Minden.
A sheen of fuel remains in the water and is shifting with wind conditions, making control difficult, the health unit said.
Get weekly health news
Get the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.
Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) teams are working with the property owner to contain the spill.
Many properties, both permanent and domestic, draw water directly from the lake, prompting the health unit to issue a drinking water advisory.
Residents are told not to drink, cook, bathe or bathe in the lake water.
“Boiling water will not make it safe,” the health unit points out.
Officials say bottled or alternative water sources should be used for now.
The situation is being monitored by health officials, municipalities, MECP and other agencies, with the advisory remaining in effect until further notice.
The city also remains under a state of emergency due to flood conditions along the Gull River, which flows through downtown Minden.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
