West Kelowna Estates System Boil Water Notice downgraded to Water Quality Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 03, 2020

The City of West Kelowna, in consultation with Interior Health, has downgraded the Boil Water Notice for the West Kelowna Estates System to a Water Quality Advisory due to improving conditions at the Okanagan Lake intake.

Although conditions have improved, a Water Quality Advisory will remain in effect until further notice for the West Kelowna Estates System because turbidity remains higher than normal due to spring freshet and related conditions in the lake. Turbidity affects the performance of the chlorine disinfection process because bacteria, viruses and microorganisms can attach themselves to 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 the West Kelowna Estates System, please view our Water Quality Map at westkelownacity.ca/waterquality.

Under a Water Quality Advisory children, the elderly and people 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 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 Advisory. Please bring clean bottles for filling. The tap is located on the Asquith Road side of the facility. In keeping with COVID-19 guidelines, crews 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 West Kelowna Estates, Sunnyside/Pritchard 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 2022.

The Water Quality Advisory will remain in effect until further notice. The City will advise customers as soon as possible when it is able to end the advisory through the media, its e-notification system, Facebook and Twitter feeds and municipal website at westkelownacity.ca/news.  Residents are encouraged to sign up for e-notices at westkelownacity.ca/subscribe  to receive word on Water Quality Advisories and other city news and events.