Water Quality Advisory issued for Lakeview-Rose Valley Water System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, Sept. 3, 2021

The City of West Kelowna, in consultation with Interior Health, is issuing a Water Quality Advisory, until further notice, for the Lakeview-Rose Valley Service Area due to turbidity in the source supply – Rose Valley Reservoir.

View a map at westkelownacity.ca/waterquality to confirm if your property is in the affected system.

The Shannon Lake area and portions of the West Kelowna Business Park, within the Lakeview-Rose Valley system, which were placed on a Boil Water Notice due to a water main break Wednesday night, are also now on the Water Quality Advisory due to turbid water in the reservoir.

Turbidity affects the performance of the chlorine disinfection process because bacteria, protozoa, viruses and other microorganisms can attach themselves to suspended particles in the turbid water. These particles can interfere with disinfection by shielding the microorganisms from the chlorine.

Under a Water Quality Advisory, 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.

The bulk filling station at Shannon Lake and Asquith Roads provides a safe, alternative drinking water source from the Powers Creek Water Filtration Plant, which uses multiple methods of treatment. The City will replicate these processes at the Rose Valley treatment facility, which is under construction. Customers can use the touch-free filling station free during the Water Quality Advisory. Bring clean bottles for filling. The tap is located on the Asquith Road side of the facility. In keeping with COVID-19 guidelines, users should not touch the station nor their faces, sanitize their hands before and after using the facility, and maintain a safe distance of two meters between themselves and others.

The City will inform residents, via its e-news service, as soon as it is able to rescind the Water Quality Advisory. To receive news, alerts, water quality advisories and boil water notices and updates on Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant, sign up at westkelownacity.ca/subscribe.