Halifax water is warning residents that wastewater is entering the Northwest arm because of a system backup.

As a result, untreated, unscreened waste is entering the water. Crews are working to solve the issue but in the meantime people and pets should stay out of the water until further notice. On top of being just plain disgusting, wastewater can carry dangerous bacteria such as E.coli.

To reduce the environmental impact during the work, Halifax Water is asking nearby residents to reduce the amount of water they are flushing and pouring into their drains. They say this will help minimize the amount of wastewater released into the environment.