Utilities

Why am I receiving a utilities invoice when I have never before?

The District is updating its financial services software and processes. In the past, garbage, recycling and sewer user fees were included on Property Tax Notices. Now, the garbage, recycling and sewer user fees, if applicable, will be invoiced quarterly in Utility Invoices. The Utility Invoices that went out in July 2022 were the first invoices which included sewer usage, garbage and recycling and these services were prorated for the first six months of the year. Future invoices will only include usage for the past three months. 

My bank won’t accept the account number when I try to pay. Help!

Our payee name is typically LAKE COUNTRY – UTILITIES but this may vary depending on your bank. Search the payee list for “Lake Country” and find the appropriate name. Enter your Utility Account Number. If you account number is not accepted by your bank's system, additional digits may be required by your bank. Please add zero(s) at the beginning of the account number, for example, if your account number is 1234567 try entering 01234567.

Am I being overcharged? My bill seems very high.

The Utility Invoices that went out in July 2022 were the first invoices using a new financial software and were prorated to include the first six months of sewer usage, garbage and recycling fees. These amounts had previously been included as a yearly amount on the property tax bill. Water usage for the first three months of 2022 was invoiced to users in a First Quarter Utility Invoice. All future quarterly invoices will include usage for the previous three months.

Some charges that were previously on your Property Tax Notice, like garbage, recycling and sewer usage, have been removed from your 2022 Property Tax Notice and included in the new quarterly invoicing of utilities.

If you have copies of your 2021 and 2022 Property Tax Notice, a comparison will show garbage, recycling and, if applicable, sewer user fees have been removed.

No new charges were introduced as a result of the change in invoicing and the financial system upgrade. Council sets the property Tax Rate Bylaw each year (in 2022 the rate was 5.88%) and the Water Rates Bylaw sets the rates for water.  This bylaw was updated in early 2022 with new water rates. The rates were increased to address inflationary pressures and continued service delivery. The rates were last updated in 2019.

Why am I being charged for sewer when I’m on septic?

The District’s Environmental Levy of $75 and a $275 Sewer Service Parcel Tax is applied annually. The Environmental Levy is for the eventual expansion of the sewer system and the parcel tax is levied on all properties capable of being drained into the municipal sewer system, whether or not the property is connected to the sewer, and supports the operations and maintenance of the municipal sewer/wastewater system.

Sewer user fees are charged on properties that are connected to municipal sewer. These fees formerly appeared on Property Tax Notices and now appear on Utility Invoices. 

How did the District inform residents about these changes?

• January 2022 – Citizen Bulletin mailed to every residence; included information about upcoming changes to property tax and utility billing
• February 2 – News Release about the Bulletin - Important Information Arriving Into your Mailbox
• February 2 – Facebook Post about Bulletin – Facebook – check your mailbox
• May 2022 – Information posted on www.lakecountry.bc.ca/utilities
• June 10 – News Release distributed and posted on the website - Skip the Line Up - Property Tax Payment Options and Utility Billing Changes
• July 19 – News Release distributed and posted on the website – Changes to Utility Invoices
• Ads were placed in several editions of the Lake Country Calendar

Keep informed; SUBSCRIBE to receive e-notification of District news and events.

Beaver/Swalwell Lake

• Beaver Lake Water Quality Advisory in Effect 

Kalamalka Lake

• No water quality advisory in effect.

Oyama Lake

• Oyama Lake Water Quality Advisory In Effect 
• Attention water customers on the east bench of Oyama: For most of the year you receive water from the Kalamalka Lake source, but during the high use agricultural irrigation period (starting the last week of April to September) your water source reverts back to the Oyama Lake source which remains on a Water Quality Advisory that has been in place since 2013. Please note, the GIS map below will always show your water source as Oyama Lake.

Okanagan Lake

• No water quality advisory in effect.

Coral Beach System

• No water quality advisory in effect.

Lake Pine System

• No water quality advisory in effect.  

WHAT IS MY WATER SOURCE?

Please check the interactive water source map to confirm which source your property is on: www.lakecountry.bc.ca/MyWatermap 

Find your property and click on it to view the pop up dialogue box which will tell you the water source and link to any Advisory or Notice information. 

What is a Water Quality Advisory? 
(WATCH this 40 second video to find out more)

Learn more: Waterborne Infections in British Columbia | HealthLinkBC File 49a

VIEW the interactive Drinking Water for All map for all water utilities (including the small private utilities that serve only a few households) regulated through Interior Health

Normal Conditions

Wise water use practices:

• Manual watering in mornings or evenings and not during the mid-day heat or when it is windy.
• Watering with a watering can or by hand whenever possible.
• Keep grass longer and leave clippings on the lawn.
• Remember to turn off your automated irrigation system during rainy periods. Don't set it and forget it!
• Don't water gravel or pavement

Stage 1 

• 90-80% of Average Conditions. Residential and commercial irrigation is permitted on alternating days:
• Even numbered addresses - even calendar days only
• Odd numbered addresses - odd calendar days only
• Underground systems with timers - alternate days only

Stage 2 

• 80-45% of Average Conditions. Residential and commercial irrigation is permitted once or twice a week as determined by the Director.

Stage 3

• <45% of Average Conditions. Residential and commercial irrigation is prohibited.

Lake water is not pristine and beach water quality can fluctuate due to a number of factors including lake currents, runoff and outflow from creeks, changing environmental factors and waterfowl and animal waste.

Additionally, Water Quality is typically poorer in the summer when the warm weather escalates bacterial growth and swimmers stir up the lake bottom.

Water Testing

Each summer, municipal staff collect water samples from a number of our beaches for Interior Health to test and analyze. Beaches that historically have shown higher than acceptable coliform counts at certain periods during the summer months are sampled weekly, with no fewer than five samples in a 30-day period.

The District of Lake Country is also taking measures to enhance beach water quality including the implementation of a valley-wide Goose Management Plan.

Beach Water Quality Advisory

A Beach Water Quality Advisory is a notice to swimmers that bacterial levels are currently higher than those allowed in the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality. The maximum allowable number of E. coli bacteria in recreational water is 200 per 100-millilitre sample.

The risk of infection is directly related to bacterial counts in the water. When E. coli reaches 200 units per 100 millilitre sample it’s expected that one per cent of bathers may develop gastrointestinal illness (GI) if these bacteria are ingested. For every one GI illness, two to three other illnesses - skin rashes (swimmer’s itch excluded) and eye, ear and throat symptoms - can be expected. The very young, the very old and people with weakened immunity are the most susceptible.

When a Beach Water Quality Advisory is in place signage will be posted at the affected beach.

Once testing shows bacteria levels have returned to acceptable levels the Advisory will be lifted and the signage removed.  

Protect Yourself

• Avoid swallowing lake water
• Avoid swimming with an open cut or wound
• Avoid swimming for 24-hours after a significant rainfall
• Stay away from the water if you are experiencing digestive or intestinal problems
• Wash your hands before handling food

Protect the Beach

• Don’t feed the birds
• Don’t take your pet to most beaches
• Don’t litter or discard food on the beach
• Change diapered children in the bathroom frequently, not at the beach
• Dispose of boat sewage in onshore sanitary facilities
• Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet or after changing diapers
• Never bury waste in beach sand
• Call 250-766-5650 if you see something that needs our attention

For more information on beach water quality, contact Interior Health at 250 862-4200.

Understanding Beach Water Quality

• Disease-causing microorganisms in water include bacteria, viruses and parasites (e.g. Giardia and Cryptosporidium). These disease-causing organisms can be discharged directly to water bodies or transported with surface runoff. Sources are numerous and include discharge of untreated sewage, runoff from agricultural activities and wastes from waterfowl and wild and domestic animals. Fertilizers, pesticides, and garbage can also contaminate beach water.
• Beach water quality is typically poorer in summer due to warmer water temperatures and the number of people swimming. Contamination is also more likely to increase during and after rainstorms.
• Escherichia coli (E. coli) belongs to a group of bacteria called fecal coliforms that originate in the digestive tract of warm-blooded animals. E. coli is a common human bacteria primarily used as indicator bacteria and should not be confused with E. Coli 0157:H7 which causes outbreaks of bloody diarrhea, however, there are categories of E. coli that cause diarrhea. 

Goose Management

Learn more about the regional Goose Management program. 

Algae Blooms

Find information about Algae Blooms in local lakes. 

Please check the interactive water source map to confirm which source your property is on.  Click on your property to view the dialogue box which will tell you your water source and link to any Advisory of Notice information.  

CLICK HERE and Zoom in to find your address and water source information on this GIS Map. 

The rates below are for 2023. The water rates are included in the Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw (Schedule B)

Note that where there are two (2) or more distinct premises on one parcel, the annual base rate will be multiplied by the number of distinct premises; except where a distinct premise is a Registered Secondary Suite or Registered Accessory Suite.

Other User Fees

All other water related user fees, including non-connected user fees for Local Service Areas such as Coral Beach and Lake Pine, see Water Regulation and Rates Bylaw (Schedule A) 

Properties located in the Ponderosa Road Local Service Area may be subject to annual parcel taxes as outlined in the Ponderosa Road Local Service Parcel Tax Bylaw 694, 2008.

 Billing and Payment Options

Attention Customers:

The District is upgrading its financial administration software which will temporarily impact the ability to access the online utility billing information.

At this time, new customers will not be able to register for online access and existing accounts will not have access effective April 1, 2022. Online access to Utility Billing Accounts is expected to resume in early 2023.

If you have questions about utility billing, please contact 250-766-6680 or email Utilitybillings@lakecountry.bc.ca

Utilities invoices are charged quarterly with the following billing cycles and due dates:

• January 1 to March 31 - due May 15
• April 1 to June 30 – due August 15
• July 1 to September 30 – due November 15
• October 1 to December 31 – due February 15

To update your mailing address for water utility invoices and property taxes please modify your contact details directly through BC Assessment Authority using this link to the form on their website. Please complete the form for your Lake Country property specifying: Area 19, Jurisdiction 331 and use the 8 digit Roll Number (no dots, dashes or spaces; and if the roll number only has 7 digits then a zero should be added before the 7 digits).  

If you input your address on this site (https://www.bcassessment.ca/) then the Area, Jurisdiction and Roll number will be displayed for you to enter on the form.  For additional assistance call BCAA’s toll-free number at 1-866-825-8322. 

The District of Lake Country receives a weekly update from BC Assessment to ensure records are consistent. 

Payment Options

All unpaid balances past the due date will incur interest of 1.5% per month compounded annually.  It is each customer's responsibility to make sure the bill is paid by the deadline to avoid penalties. Outstanding charges at December 31 are rolled into taxes in arrears and accrue interest.

Payment options include:

• cheque, cash, debit card at Municipal Hall, in person or use drop box located at the north entrance of Municipal Hall
• credit cards are now accepted for payment of utility invoices using the third party secure Option Pay system
• payments sent by mail must be RECEIVED by the due date 
• at your financial institution using 'Lake Country Utilities' as a payee and the account number found on your water bill (with one or two zeros added to the beginning of the number to ensure it is the 7-digit format that most banks require for payment processing)
• online/telephone banking, allow 2-3 business days processing time to ensure payment is made on time (make sure to include your utility account number when paying online)

A Cross Connection Control Program helps establish protocols to protect the drinking water supply from potential contamination through cross connection and backflow. The District’s Permit to Operate (issued by the Interior Health Authority) requires the District to have a comprehensive Cross Connection Control Program. For More information on the District’s Cross Connection Control Program see the following:

• DLC Cross Connection Control Program
• Water Regulations and Rates 984 Bylaw - Section 14- Cross-Connection

Backflow prevention devices (BPD) such as approved double check valve assemblies, reduced pressure backflow assemblies and pressure vacuum breakers require frequent testing and inspections to ensure they are in good working order. Residential users require that their BPD be tested every three years. Commercial users require annual testing of their BPD. Agricultural & seasonal irrigation services require testing annually, however testing on agriculture and season irrigation services is conducted by the District. Testing must be completed by an individual who is certified, and test results can be submitted to the District of Lake Country via email at engineering@lakecountry.bc.ca with attention to: Sarah Graham.

• BFD Test Report
• Backflow Removal Form

Winterizing your backflow preventer for agricultural properties is an necessary process to ensure it’s functionality the following year. Watch a brief video to learn how to winterize your backflow preventer on an agricultural property.

Seasonal Irrigation

Seasonal irrigation turn ons typically occur the third week of April. Turn offs typically occur the second week of October.

If you have questions, please call the Utilities Department at 250-766-6677. 

Please use this fillable form to request an early irrigation turn on/off. Email it to engineering@lakecountry.bc.ca. 

REQUEST irrigation turn on/off

Please read the New Watermain Commissioning Policy 189, 2021 and complete the appropriate forms (included with policy document) before commissioning a new watermain for a development.

Private Water Utilities

If your water service is provided by a private utility company you will receive a bill from them directly. If you have any questions regarding your service or invoice please contact the appropriate utility. 

Alto Utilities
10397 Lodge Road
Lake Country, BC V4V 1V6
Emergency Phone: 778-805-1501
Website

East Side Utility
c/o Harvey Lister Inc.
502 Ellis Street
Penticton, BC V2A 4M3
Emergency Contact: Drew Allingham
Pager: 250-717-9724
Cell: 250-689-2285 

Kal Pine Utility
#48 - 17610 Rawsthorne Rd
Lake Country, BC V4V 2K2
Emergency Contact: Don Wakeham
Phone: 250-548-4064 

Gatzke Road Utility
16844 Gatzke Road
Lake Country, BC V4V 2J1
Emergency Contact: Denis Murphy
Phone: 250-548-3438

View the draft OPERATIONAL CERTIFICATE 14651 from the Ministry of Environment to the District of Lake Country for the wastewater treatment facility located in Lake Country, BC.

Sewer utilities are included annually on property tax notices. All parcels of land that are capable of being connected to the sewer system or which are deemed to abut the sewer system are charged a parcel tax regardless of whether they are connected. Properties that are connected to sewer are charged a user fee and a parcel tax. Please refer to Sewer Service Parcel Tax Bylaw 98-224 for all the details.

• Parcel Tax: $275 per year.
• Annual Residential User Fee: $250 per distinct premises on the property, multiplied by the number of distinct premises.
• Non-residential User Fee: Based on a $250 minimum charge. Refer to Sanitary Sewer Regulations and Rates Bylaw 1176, 2022 for more information.
• Environmental Levy: The environmental levy is a tax to provide for the eventual expansion of the sewer collection system. All properties within the municipality are capable of being drained into the District of Lake Country sewer system, and all properties have the opportunity to use the system therefore each parcel is assessed annually with the parcel tax.  The environmental parcel tax is a flat rate charge per parcel at $75 per parcel. Please refer to Sewer System Parcel Tax Bylaw 98-182 (also known as Wastewater Management Plan Parcel Tax Bylaw 182-1998) for more information.

Please follow the following rules when disposing or pool or spa water:

1. Disposing of pool water to the Municipal Sanitary Sewer is NOT permitted (ie: internal plumbing or drains).
2. Draining of pool water into the Municipal Storm System IS permitted (ie: outdoor, overland flow to catch basin).
3. All disinfecting chemicals are to be removed prior to disposal. This is includes Chlorine and Bromine.
4. Unless prohibited by covenant, dispose of water onsite onto a surface such as a grassy area or an area that can adsorb the water.
5. When disposing onsite, release in a controlled manner so as not to cause flooding, erosion or sediment transfer – the water should run clear and contain no debris or dirt.

*NOTE: Community and/or Strata pool draining needs to be approved by Engineering Department prior to discharge. Pool water disposed to the municipal sanitary sewer could harm the beneficial bacteria essential to the wastewater treatment process. Pool water disposed to the municipal storm sewer that contains toxins can have a negative impact of the natural environment.

If you have any questions please contact Engineering 250-766-6677 or email engineering@lakecountry.bc.ca.

Pool Water Drainage Letter to Residents

The District has experienced extraneous flows into the municipal sanitary sewer system caused by swimming pools that are illegally connected. These unauthorized connections overwhelm the systems and can lead to spills which have disastrous environmental consequences. Mechanical and biological failure of the wastewater treatment process can also occur as a result of these connections.

The District of Lake Country does not permit any non-sanitary connections to its sewer system. Examples of unauthorized connections are:

• Pools
• Hot Tubs & Spas
• RV Wastewater (unless authorized)
• Storm water, such as:
  • Roof leaders
  • Sump pumps
  • Foundation drains

Un-authorized connections must be DISCONNECTED and routed to the appropriate disposal site. Unauthorized connections could lead to a fine of up to $10,000 under the provisions contained within the District’s Sanitary Sewer Regulations and Rates Bylaw 1176, 2022 .

If you have any questions, please contact Engineering at 250-766-6677 or email engineering@lakecountry.bc.ca

Unauthorized Sewer Connections Letter to Residents 

• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018