Home / Health / Paradise Lost: Hamilton Resort Residents Stuck Under Boil Water Advisory
Paradise Lost: Hamilton Resort Residents Stuck Under Boil Water Advisory
10 Jul
Summary
- Residents at Fernbrook Resort are over 40 days into a boil water advisory.
- The private water system's UV disinfection unit requires parts no longer available.
- An advocacy group is seeking rent compensation for affected tenants.
Residents at Hamilton's Fernbrook Resort are facing an extended crisis, having been under a boil water advisory for more than 40 days as of July 10, 2026. The advisory, issued on May 26, prohibits drinking the water without boiling and affects basic needs like cooking and brushing teeth. Seniors find boiling water difficult during heat waves and struggle to carry cases of bottled water provided by the resort.
The issue stems from a private, non-municipal water system recently taken over by a new company. Hamilton Public Health confirmed the advisory is a precaution due to operational standard issues, specifically with the UV disinfection system. While bacteriological sampling results have been satisfactory, repairs to the UV system are complicated by the unavailability of necessary parts, requiring new designs for UV units.
An engineering firm involved expects repairs to be completed and the advisory lifted by July 15, 2026, with the work potentially taking four to six weeks. In response to the ongoing disruption, the tenant advocacy group ACORN is requesting rent compensation for the residents, arguing that such service disruptions in the past have led to waived rent.
