Water quality is strictly regulated through Interior Health Authority and the District of Lake Country takes the provision of drinking water to the community very seriously.
Residents interested in knowing more about the water quality are encouraged to read through the Q&A below. Please contact communications@lakecountry.bc.ca if you have additional questions that you would like to see answered here.
| How do I find out which water source services my property? |
| You can see water source details on the District of Lake Country MyWater GIS map which is linked on the website. |
| How many Lake Country properties receive Okanagan Lake water? |
| Approximately 2,800 |
| How many Lake Country properties receive Beaver Lake water? |
| Approximately 1,300 |
| How many Lake Country properties receive Oyama Lake water? |
| Approximately 290 |
| Why is the Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake water sources on a water quality advisory? |
| Throughout the year turbidity of the water sources fluctuates between good and fair. Due to variability of these fluctuations, and as a precaution, these water sources are kept on a year round water quality advisory. |
| How long has the Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake water quality advisories been in effect? |
| The water quality advisory for Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake has been in effect since the mid 2000’s. |
| How is Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake water treated? |
| Water from Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake source is screened to remove any large particulate and is disinfected with chlorine. This process is carefully monitored with instrumentation and staff is immediately notified in the event of an issue. |
| When will Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake water quality advisory be withdrawn? |
| When a water treatment facility is constructed to process the source water. |
| Where can I find Water Quality reports? |
| Water quality reports for all District water sources can be found in Reference Documents. Full reports on the water chemistry and quality of all District of Lake Country drinking water sources can be viewed on the monthly water quality reports and annual reports. |
| Where can I find the Water Operations Annual Report? |
| The Water Operations Annual Reports are available through the District's Reference Documents. |
| What regulator(s) ensures the community has safe drinking water? |
| Guidelines for Canadian Water Quality must be followed as a condition of the District's Permit to Operate. Interior Health is responsible for overseeing and ensuring guidelines are met. The District of Lake Country has a comprehensive water quality monitoring plan and reports directly to the Interior Health Authority. |
| If someone living in our home has health issues should they invest in a water filtration system or buy bottled water? |
| What you choose to do is a personal decision. If you are concerned about your drinking water, a simple and cost-effective solution is to boil your drinking water. |
| What is “turbidity”? |
| Turbidity is a measure of how clear or cloudy the water is and the “NTU” is the unit it is measured in. Particles can interfere with the disinfection process and may reduce chlorines effectiveness. Turbidity in the good and fair range are invisible to the human eye. |
| Is turbidity harmful in drinking water? |
| Health risks increase as turbidity rises, particularly for at-risk populations. Contaminants such as viruses, bacteria and parasites can attach themselves to the suspended particles in turbid water. Although the water is treated with chlorine the particles can interfere with disinfection. |
| Should I be concerned with the amount of THM’s in my drinking water? |
| Media coverage of THM’s has been top of mind for many water customers. Please take a moment to review details and facts on mitigating THM’s in Lake Country water sources. |
| Is Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake water safe for brushing my teeth and bathing? |
| Yes. |
| Will Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake water ruin or be hard on my appliances? |
| No. |
| Does the District of Lake Country have a Water Master Plan? |
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Yes, view the District's Water Master Plan. The Lake Country Water Master Plan identifies strategically staged initiatives. As a result of having a Water Master Plan, the District of Lake Country has been able to access federal grant funding and has taken consistent action on phased water infrastructure projects. The Water Master Plan is being revised beginning in 2022. Public engagement is solicited and encouraged throughout the process. Subscribe to District news to ensure you are notified of engagement opportunities. |
| Why hasn’t the District addressed issues with the Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake water source? |
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Significant investments have been made in improving water quality in Lake Country. One such recent investment has been the construction of pumping facilities to interconnect the systems in order to pump Okanagan Lake or Kalamalka Lake water into the Beaver Lake and Oyama Lake distribution systems as required. The existing water master plan sets the rates so that a treatment facility would be built over time in an affordable manner for the community.
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| The potable water tap beside the arena - which water source is it from? When will it be turned off? |
|
The tap is turned on seasonally and provides water from Okanagan Lake. |
| Is the potable water tap beside the arena filtered or is there any extra treatment for that water? |
| No. |
| Water servicing the arena - where is it from? |
| Okanagan Lake |
| Where can I find information on water projects? |
| Major Projects webpage is where you will find information on projects happening in Lake Country. |
| Can a fridge water filter replace boiling water? |
| A carbon filter can certainly help. However each filter is different and you would need to research your filter and fridge type to make that decision. |
| Can my pet drink tap water? |
| Yes. However if your pet has health issues and you want to be cautious simply boil tap water prior to your pet drinking it. |
