Water Quality FAQs

Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant: The Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant is the City's top-priority project. Construction began in 2020 and this momentum continues in 2022 as we work to construct a new water treatment plant that will eliminate the need for turbidity-related water quality advisories. Learn more about the project.

Preventative maintenance: Each year, preventative maintenance programs such as water main flushing, reservoir diving inspections and cleaning are conducted in all of West Kelowna’s Water Systems.

During the week of Aug. 22, 2022, City of West Kelowna crews will begin watermain flushing in the Rose Valley-Lakeview Water System to help improve water quality and maintain the water system as part of the annual flushing program. Read more about the watermain flushing.

Our Utilities staff work continually to reduce turbidity, specifically in the Lakeview System, through the use of siphoning, aeration, and more, with the help of an aquatic biologist.  In some cases, the causes are beyond our control such as climate change, primarily in the Rose Valley Reservoir. Weather over the past five years has been noticeably different with record flood and forest fire seasons and unseasonable and unusual patterns.

Watershed protection: We continue to lobby for more watershed protection. 

The Lakeview System's Watershed is 241 square kms and includes Esperon, Big Horn and Rose Valley Reservoirs and Bear/Lambly and Terrace Creeks. Within the watershed, activities such as logging, recreational vehicle use and cattle grazing impact water quality. These activities are provincially regulated and the City has no direct control over usage. The Lakeview watershed feeds into Okanagan Lake, which provides the water for the Pritchard/Sunnyside and West Kelowna Estates Systems. 

Not sure what water system you live in? View the Water Services and Advisories Map or refer to your quarterly utility bill for more information.

Where can I find the bulk filling station?

The City supplies a safe water source at the bulk filling station located at Shannon Lake and Asquith Roads.

• Customers can use the station free throughout the duration of a Water Quality Advisory, Boil Water Notice or Do Not Consume or Do Not Use Order.
• Please bring clean bottles for filling. A touch free system for filling bottles is located at the station. 
• 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. Learn more about the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant project. 

Water is metered in the City of West Kelowna and the usage portion of your bill is based on consumption. If you are using less due to a Water Quality Advisory or a Boil Water Notice, the consumption portion of your bill is going to be lower.

The other portion of rates covers the fixed costs of running and maintaining the system. Utility staff work continuously to flush water mains, reduce turbidity and operate the vast system that gets water from upland reservoirs (Big Horn, Esperon, Rose Valley, etc.) to customers in the Lakeview System or up from Okanagan Lake to the Pritchard/Sunnyside and West Kelowna Estates Systems.

The fixed rate also includes debt repayment for past improvements and another component to cover future required upgrades and replacements.

Water Quality Advisories and Boil Water Notices are continuous and kept in place until further notice. 

Water quality is monitored throughout each day of the advisory or notice period, but turbidity levels fluctuate depending on the amount of material passing through the monitors at any given time. Staff monitor the results and provide samples to health officials for testing. Once water readings are consistently at acceptable levels, we immediately notify residents through our website, e-news updates and social media.

During an advisory or notice period, the community should continue to follow the recommendations of Interior Health and boil their water as recommended or find an alternative safe source. To ensure you receive up-to-date notifications, subscribe for e-updates at westkelownacity.ca/subscribe.