Patty Cuttell raised concerns that not using the provincial alert system would mean fewer people would get word about the boil-water order. (HRM/YouTube)Under the province's emergency alert system, messages are automatically sent to people's cellphones — they do not have to sign up to receive them. The timing of the messages isn't clear, but O'Toole noted she received a request to use the provincial alert system. Halifax Water was unaware it had access to the provincial alert system, only learning it was an option on Canada Day evening. O'Toole then said the municipality would not use the provincial emergency alert to notify the public when the order was lifted.
