Greater Vernon Water (GVW) reminds customers that the Kalamalka Lake water source was turned off on Monday, February 16, 2015 due to turbidity in Kalamalka Lake. The Mission Hill Treatment Plant treats water from Kalamalka Lake and does not have filtration; therefore, the water quality can be vulnerable to changes occurring in and around the lake.
Kalamalka Lake remains off to accommodate the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) milfoil removal. The milfoil removal is important to our community for economic, tourism and recreational values. The working relationship between GVW and OBWB has helped in understanding the water quality responses of milfoil control and has improved operational procedures and customer service. The benefit of having two unique water sources gives GVW redundancy and allows customers to be served from either source when required.
At this time, all water in the Greater Vernon Water service area is being supplied by the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant (DCWTP). It is anticipated that the GVW system will operate with only the DCWTP water source until Monday, March 9, 2015.
Customers who are not normally on the DCWTP water source will notice that the water is softer and the water has a low alkalinity and pH. This may be of interest to those customers who have in-home water treatment systems or aquariums.
Staff will continue to monitor water quality and notify customers of any further changes.
Customers will be notified via radio, newspaper and the Regional District of North Okanagan website at www.rdno.ca when the Kalamalka Lake water source is turned back on.
For further information, please call 250-550-3700 or visit www.rdno.ca.