Greater Vernon Water (GVW) advises customers that the Kalamalka Lake water source was turned off on Monday, February 16, 2015 due to increased 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. The decision to turn off the Kalamalka Lake water source was based on increased turbidity due to spring run-off and milfoil removal at the north end of Kalamalka Lake. All water in the Greater Vernon service area will be supplied from the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant (DCWTP) to avoid issuing a Boil Water Notice to customers normally on Kalamalka Lake.
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.