Water
Kal Lake water shut off due to increased turbidity, milfoil removal
VERNON - The Kalamalka Lake water supply has been shut off due to increased turbidity and milfoil removal. The Greater Vernon Water Utility turned the water off Monday, Feb. 16. Until it’s back on, water will be supplied through the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant to avoid issuing a boil water advisory. “The decision to...
Aging waterworks the target of proposed rate increase
KELOWNA - About half of Kelowna can expect a minor water rate increase sometime soon if Kelowna city council agrees to a recommendation by staff. John Vos, the city’s director of corporate business ventures, is recommending a two percent increase for those homes and businesses serviced by the city water utility. The rest of Kelowna...
Here’s the repair bill for Vernon’s broken water mains in 2014
VERNON - Fixing aging water mains in the City of Vernon last year didn’t come cheap. The Greater Vernon Water Utility, which operates the system, was billed approximately $370,000 by the city in 2014. That was for a total of 28 water main break repairs, or about $13,214 per break. That’s in addition to the...
The high cost of waiting to replace Vernon’s aging water system
VERNON - Costs of aging water pipes are beginning to pile up in the City of Vernon with 86 water main breaks in just the last three years—four of them this month. And the costs are not just in dollars and cents. Breaks on Nov. 25 left over 100 residents without water. Earlier in the year,...
Why this Okanagan woman took not one, but 12 polar bear dips
OKANAGAN - If you thought this week’s Polar Bear Swim participants were nuts, you won’t believe what this Okanagan mom has been doing for the past three months. Along with her sister and 14-year-old daughter, Kelowna resident Mix Hart has been taking a dip in Okanagan Lake once a week for the past 12 weeks....
Killiney Beach water interruption notice
KILLINEY BEACH - Some customers of the Killiney Beach Water System should plan to be without water service on Monday morning. Water will be shut off for approximately 75 homes below Westside Road while the Regional District repairs a leak in a Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) at Westside Road and Kildare Way. The work is...
Local rep says Greater Vernon Water referendum failed for all the wrong reasons
'I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THIS WAS A POLITICAL POSITION TO TAKE WITH THE ELECTION COMING UP' VERNON - A local politician is speaking out against the results of the failed Greater Vernon Water referendum. Electoral Area C director Mike Macnabb believes it failed for all the wrong reasons. “I think the $70 million was...
ELECTION 2014: Greater Vernon Water referendum crushed
VERNON - The Greater Vernon Water referendum failed to garner support from voters. Asked if they supported borrowing up to $70 million to bring the water system up to provincial safety standards, 7,918 residents (64 per cent) voted no, and 3,999 (34 per cent) voted yes. Endorsing the referendum would have meant the average domestic...
North Okanagan voters prepare to make multi-million dollar decision
NORTH OKANAGAN REGIONAL DISTRICT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT WILL DO IF RESIDENTS VOTE NO VERNON - If North Okanagan voters say yes to borrowing millions of dollars for improvements to the water system in an upcoming referendum, the answer is easy: the upgrades get done. But if they say no, things get complicated. Right now,...
Water board has money to give away
KELOWNA – There is another $300,000 up for grabs for those who need money to fund a project to save water or improve its quality in the Okanagan in 2015. The Okanagan Basin Water Board is back with its Water Conservation and Quality Improvement grant program. It’s the ninth year for the program. The cash...
Local golf courses plead with city over escalating water rates
VERNON - Local golf courses are pleading with the City of Vernon for a break on escalating water rates, calling this the most challenging time the industry has ever faced. Four local golf courses—Predator Ridge, The Rise, Vernon Golf & Country Club and Hillview Golf—told Vernon council they are paying inordinate fees compared to other...
No takers: Olalla water commission gets appointed
SOUTH OKANAGAN - The Olalla water commission race has been deemed a ‘non-election’ since no nominations were submitted for the four available positions. There has been a challenge in retaining elected officials in the Olalla community since 2008, says Christy Malden, chief elections officer for the Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen. It has been difficult...
Summerland boil water notice lifted
SUMMERLAND – The boil water advisory for the Summerland water system has been lifted. The District of Summerland announced Friday Interior Health had lifted the boil water advisory issued on Tuesday, Aug. 12. The health authority was concerned about high bacteria counts found in tests of the raw water supply. A boil water notice was...
Boil water notice issued for Summerland
SUMMERLAND - A boil water notice is in effect for Summerland after contaminants entered the district’s water stream during a water treatment process Monday. The notice was issued Monday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. While there was only a small amount of contaminants that entered the system, safety precautions needed to take effect, said Devon Van...
Boil water advisory for residents on Southeast Kelowna Irrigation District
KELOWNA – Kelowna residents under the Southeast Kelowna Irrigation District must boil their water before drinking until further notice. According to a release today, the main power to the facility was disconnected earlier today for routine line maintenance. A backup generator used to power the chlorination system then failed and stopped the supply of chlorine...