The City of West Kelowna is issuing a Water Quality Advisory for users of the Pritchard and Sunnyside Water Systems due to increased turbidity in water drawn from Okanagan Lake.
The advisory affects 150 customers with the Pritchard Water System and approximately 1,000 customers of the Sunnyside Water System. These unfiltered systems are treated with chlorination only. The City will continue to monitor these systems and will advise customers when the Water Quality Advisory is lifted.
Users are encouraged to sign up for e-Notification on the City’s website, at www.westkelownacity.ca/notifyme to have updates automatically emailed directly to them.
Increased turbidity, caused by spring runoff and flooding activity, 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.
It is recommended that children, the elderly, people with weakened immune system and anyone wishing to seek additional protection bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute, or use an alternate, safe source of water, for drinking, brushing teeth, preparing food and mixing baby formula.
Visit www.healthlinkbc.ca for more information about preventing water-bourne infections.