Service notice - Potable Water Temporarily Restricted on Salish Raven

Posted:   Friday, March 27, 2026

Issued: March 27, 2026

Potable Water Temporarily Restricted on Salish Raven

Swartz Bay - Southern Gulf Islands

Potable water on board the Salish Raven, is temporarily not available for drinking or food preparation.

Customers on board are being informed, signage has been posted at taps in customer and crew areas, and bottled water is available.

Based on advice from public health authorities, onboard water and ice are not being used for drinking or food preparation at this time but can continue to be used for handwashing. Food service is continuing, with adjustments in place to ensure food is prepared safely. Additional beverages, including coffee and tea, are being brought on board from the Land's End Café at the Swartz Bay terminal as required.

This follows routine water quality testing that identified elevated lead levels in an initial sample. As a precaution, we immediately restricted use of onboard potable water systems while follow-up testing is underway in coordination with public health officials.

We regularly test water quality across our fleet. When a result is flagged, we restrict use and complete follow-up testing, and systems are only returned to service once results are confirmed safe by public health.

We know customers may have questions given the number of precautionary water-related measures taken this week. While this is more than we would typically expect to see in a short period, these cases have involved different types of test results and we believe that they are not related. In recent cases, follow-up testing confirmed water quality was safe, and there is no indication of a broader system issue at this time.

We are working closely with public health experts and following their guidance to ensure safe operations on board.

For up-to-date sailing and departure information, check Current Conditions, follow @BCFerries on X or phone 1-888-223-3779 for further assistance.