Do Not Use water order rescinded for Vavenby

KAMLOOPS – Residents of the Vavenby area are once again free to use tap water as they are no longer under a Do Not Use Order.

The Thompson Nicola Regional District has issued an update stating the order has been rescinded as of today, Jan. 25. The order was put in place following a diesel spill in the North Thompson River Jan. 16.

Today is the last day showers and bottled water will be provided. Area residents should call the regional district immediately if diesel is detected in their water.

A meeting will be held today at the Vavenby Community Hall this evening at 7:00 p.m. to discuss monitoring of the local water system, with representatives of the regional district, Interior Health Authority and Ministry of Environment.

The diesel entered the river after a truck crash on Jan. 16 and the do not use order followed shortly. Samples of river water taken Jan. 18 showed no diesel on Jan. 20, but the order stayed in place are more samples were tested.

While the order is over, a water quality advisory is in effect now due to water turbidity, or cloudiness, which is normal for this time of year, according to the district.

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