The Regional District of Central Okanagan is upgrading a precautionary Public Health Advisory issued last night to a Boil Water Notice regarding the discharge of treated effluent from the Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant into Okanagan Lake.
After further discussions with Interior Health and in accordance with Ministry of Environment regulations, the Regional District has been made aware that residences between 2523 and 2589 Whitworth Road are not connected to a municipal water supply and may draw water from Okanagan Lake.
As a result, a Boil Water Notice is in place for anyone drawing drinking water from Okanagan Lake within 300 metres of the additional temporary Wastewater Treatment Plant bypass discharge located just off the Pebble Beach Park shoreline. Affected residents should boil any water used for drinking, cooking, washing produce or fruit, making beverages and ice or brushing teeth for at least one minute or secure an alternate source of safe drinking water.
The Regional District is providing this Boil Water Notice directly to those affected property owners.
As well, following a recommendation from Interior Health, the Regional District is providing bottled water for affected residents.
Also as a precaution, swimming is not recommended within 150 metres of the temporary park discharge for treated effluent. The municipal park was closed last week after flood protection works were installed.
The additional pump is required because higher than normal lake levels have caused a decreased flow of treated effluent from the Wastewater Treatment Plant outfall in Okanagan Lake.
Both the Ministry of Environment and Interior Health were consulted last week when the supplemental pump was added for the Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment facility.