Water Quality Advisory issued for Lakeview/Rose Valley System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2020 

The City of West Kelowna, in consultation with Interior Health Authority, is issuing a Water Quality Advisory for the Lakeview/Rose Valley System, effective immediately and until further notice, due to high turbidity. This new Water Quality Advisory is in addition to the ones issued in the West Kelowna Estates and Sunnyside/Pritchard Systems.

According to the City’s Reservoir Consultant, an algal bloom, that is not harmful to human health, is causing the turbidity, which may affect the performance of the chlorine disinfection process. Increased turbidity can mean bacteria, viruses and microorganisms can attach themselves to the suspended particles in the turbid water. These particles can interfere with disinfection by shielding the microorganisms from the chlorine.

To determine if you are in these three water systems you can view our Water Quality Advisory Map at www.westkelownacity.ca/waterquality.

Children, the elderly and those with weakened immunity must use water brought to a rolling boil for one minute or more, or seek an alternative safe source, for brushing teeth, drinking, making baby formula and ice, preparing food and beverages and washing fruits and vegetables.

A safe alternate source of water is available at the bulk filling station at Shannon Lake and Asquith Roads. The water is free throughout the duration of the Water Quality Advisories. Please bring clean bottles for filling. The tap is located on the Asquith Road side of the station. In keeping with COVID-19 guidelines, crews have installed a touch free system for filling bottles at the station. Also in keeping with health requirements during COVID-19 users should wash hands regularly, avoid touching their faces and maintain a safe social distance of two meters between themselves and all other users.

The bulk filling station receives water via the state-of-the-art Powers Creek Water Filtration Plant. The City is building a similar plant for the Sunnyside/Pritchard, West Kelowna Estates and Lakeview/Rose Valley Systems. Once the new Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant serves these systems, the treatment process will filter away the turbidity. Crews have broken ground on the plant site and anticipate commissioning the facility in summer 2022.

All three Water Quality Advisories will remain in effect until further notice. The City of West Kelowna will advise customers as soon as possible when it is able to end the advisories, through the media, via the City’s eNotification system and its Facebook and Twitter feeds and the municipal website at www.westkelownacity.ca/news.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for City eNotifications at www.westkelownacity.ca/subscribe to receive word on Water Quality Advisories and other city news and events.