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Date of Issue: Monday, March 31, 2025
Dear Rose Valley Water Service Area Customers,
We are connecting with you today to share what’s new since our Feb. 11 update.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank customers for their patience and understanding during the Hudson Road water main emergency break, repairs and recovery completed in mid-February. We will repave the cut and filled road section soon and will issue a traffic advisory prior to the roadwork occurring.
This update covers from Feb. 11 to March 28 and includes new or updated information on:
- Rose Valley Reservoir source water improvements
- 2025 Water Main Flushing Program
- Irrigation season, hydrant uses and other factors that could temporarily discolor water
- Helpful reminders
- Links to the latest water quality data on the City of West Kelowna’s website
Call us first
Report color, odor and taste concerns by calling West Kelowna Public Works at 778-797-2246.
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Rose Valley Reservoir source water improvements
The City of West Kelowna continues to monitor throughout the system and the Rose Valley Reservoir source water.
Manganese levels in the reservoir and in the distribution system have remained low and did not increase in March.
Staff anticipates that manganese levels will increase this summer as water temperatures warm, which can reduce dissolved oxygen and increase dissolved manganese in the reservoir.
The City is working on source water improvements for dissolved manganese from the source water. Staff can activate oxidant pre-dosing equipment until the long-term solution – a potassium or sodium permanganate system – is put in place.
Why a potassium or sodium permanganate system is being added
Adding an oxidant to the water, prior to it entering the treatment plant, reduced dissolved manganese last summer.
Potassium or sodium permanganate will oxidize dissolved manganese in the source water, before it enters the treatment plant. If manganese remains dissolved before it enters the plant, the facility’s filters cannot remove it.
The potassium or sodium permanganate dosing system will measure dissolved manganese levels and will communicate with the plant, where operators can review and proactively adjust dosing levels.
More about manganese
Health Canada states that manganese occurs naturally in the environment, is widely distributed in air, water and soil and is an essential element for humans.
However, dissolved manganese also discolors drinking water, typically turning it a brownish color.
Do not consume discolored water or use it to make/mix infant formula. Run the cold tap for a few minutes until clear.
The maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for total manganese in drinking water is 0.12 mg/L. The aesthetic objective (AO) for total manganese in drinking water is lower at 0.02 mg/L.
If too much dissolved manganese is present and levels exceed the maximum acceptable concentration that Health Canada has established for drinking water, then an advisory is required and sent out to customers.
Remain signed up to receive City news and alerts and remind your family, friends and neighbours to sign up at westkelownacity.ca/subscribe.
Please visit Health Canada’s website to learn more about manganese guidelines for drinking water.
Settled manganese in Rose Valley Water Service Area distribution mains
Accumulated sediment, which can include manganese, has settled in our distribution mains over time and it can be stirred up through high flows and velocities. This is expected for a water system of this age, which had no water treatment plant for decades.
However, over time, as treated water enters the system and flushing efforts continue, the settled sediment will progressively reduce.
To help address the manganese in the distribution mains, flushing will continue.
Until flushing can help reduce settled sediment in our pipes over time, it is important to note that disturbances, such as unauthorized use of our hydrants, main breaks, and high seasonal flows and velocities during irrigation season can stir up settled manganese. Authorized uses such as accessing water through hydrants for street sweeping, water main flushing and firefighting can also increase flows and velocities, stirring up sediment, which may include manganese.
More about the 2025 Water Main Flushing Program
The 2025 Water Main Flushing Program is slated to start as early as the week of March 31 in Zone 3 of the former Sunnyside/Pritchard System. (see map - SS03).
It will take a few weeks to complete Sunnyside Zone 3, during which time a precautionary, isolated Water Quality Advisory will be recommended for customers. We will issue a separate notification, when flushing is about to resume, provide a link to the zone map, and give information including what to do before, during and after crews are in your neighbourhood; remain signed up to receive City news and alerts and encourage friends, family and neighbours to sign up at westkelownacity.ca/subscribe.
After Zone 3 of the former Sunnyside/Pritchard System is completed, crews will move to Rose Valley Zone 1 in the former Lakeview System, and proceed through the list that is provided at westkelownacity.ca/flushing (See section titled Flushing schedule and maps). Each zone will take a few to several weeks to complete depending on whether water can be flushed into storm sewers or if it must be trucked away. Trucking water takes more time and is typically required in older neighbourhoods where storm sewers were not built.
The City will issue notices through our eNotification system as flushing ends in one zone and begins in the next.
To learn more about types of water quality advisories, please read Interior Health’s online resource at drinkingwaterforeveryone.ca.
Irrigation season, hydrant use and other factors that could temporarily discolor water
The start of irrigation season
Irrigation season leads to higher flows and velocities in our water pipes and mains, especially during hotter summer months when flows reach their peak, typically in July and August. This also happens to be when water is warmest in the Rose Valley Reservoir source water, causing lower dissolved oxygen and potentially higher dissolved manganese. This is why it is important to be able to add an oxidant to the water after it leaves the reservoir, and before it enters the plant, so manganese can be filtered out.
Hydrant uses and other factors that could temporarily discolor water
Unlike flushing activities, which are planned, unanticipated changes in velocity can occur within the distribution system due to water main breaks, unauthorized hydrant use and required firefighting. The higher flows can stir up accumulated sediment in the pipes and cause short spikes of turbidity/discoloration in neighbourhoods nearest the accessed hydrant.
2025 Spring Street Sweeping Program
City contractors and crews who are conducting the 2025 Street Sweeping Program have been granted permits to open fire hydrants at West Bay Road (located on the flats between the Green Bay and Pritchard neighbourhoods) and Fire Hall #33 on upper Westlake Road in Rose Valley.
Some residents in the Rose Valley, West Kelowna Estates or Sunnyside, Pritchard and Green Bay neighbourhoods may notice some discolored water from this activity.
Friendly, helpful reminders
What to do if you notice temporary water discoloration
- Do not consume discolored/turbid water; do not use it to mix/make infant formula.
- Run your cold tap for a few minutes until clear.
- If after 10 minutes the water from the cold tap does not run clear, please contact us and our operators will assist you. By remaining in direct contact with us, we can investigate and resolve these matters sooner and provide more consistent water clarity.
Appliances
- As you run the dishwasher, washing machine, etc. they will flush away stagnate water.
Questions
- If you have inquiries about water quality, please contact the City’s Public Works Utilities Department at 778-797-2246.
Returning from vacation
- If you’ve been away from your property, run the cold water tap for a few minutes as part of your returning home routine.
New water quality data on the City of West Kelowna’s website
The City of West Kelowna provides monthly and annual water quality data on its website, including:
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