Water issues persist

Photo: Contributed

A water quality advisory in West Kelowna remains in place, two weeks after it was initially issued.

The advisory was issued for the Lakeview water system on Aug. 4, and affects 11,000 people in Lakeview Heights, Rose Valley, Boucherie Centre, Shannon Woods, Tallus Ridge and Shannon Lake.

The advisory is due to increased turbidity in the water. The City of West Kelowna says the water is showing improvement, but still remains under an advisory.

“The city will continue to monitor daily, advising the public as soon as possible when the advisory can be lifted,” stated a city press release.

For those affected by the advisory, the city recommends boiling water for at least one minute for children, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems.

“As turbidity increases, bacteria, viruses and microorganisms can attach themselves to the suspended particles in water,” stated the press release.

“These particles can interfere with disinfection by shielding the microorganisms from the chlorine.”

Algae growth in the Rose Valley reservoir is greater than normal due to this year's unique weather, contributing to the high turbidity.

Turbidity levels like this have not been seen since 2008.