Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

Regional District of North Okanagan

Mabel Lake outdoor watering restrictions in place for Canada Day weekend

Mabel Lake outdoor watering restrictions in place for Canada Day weekend

Outdoor watering restrictions have been put in place for Mabel Lake Water customers. The Regional District of North Okanagan says it is concerned about water system capacity for the Thursday to Monday period as tourists and locals flock to vacation properties on the North Okanagan lake. The RDNO says it's putting the watering restriction in place to ensure water availability for essential use. “Historical water usage on the July long weekend is high, and the water system has had issues in the past keeping up to demand,” the RDNO says. “Customers must take action to reduce the risk that the reservoirs become depleted, resulting in loss of water to customers, and/or compromised water quality.”

Kalamalka Lake water source has been turned off for Greater Vernon Water customers

Kalamalka Lake water source has been turned off for Greater Vernon Water customers

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) announced late Friday night that the Kalamalka Lake water source has been turned off effective immediately due to increased turbidity. Customers of Greater Vernon Water (GVW) will be affected by this. The RDNO said the decision to remove the Kalamalka Lake water source was based on increased turbidity at the drinking water system intake.

RDNO issues Grindrod water restrictions as turbidity increases

RDNO issues Grindrod water restrictions as turbidity increases

Watering your lawn is a big no-no in Grindrod right now. A temporary outdoor watering ban has been issued by the Regional District of North Okanagan. Spring runoff is causing a slow down at the Grindrod water treatment plant, resulting in restrictions on non-essential water use. Melting snow has caused water entering the plant to contain increased clay and silt particles.

$30M water filtration grant worth highlighting: Vernon mayor

$30M water filtration grant worth highlighting: Vernon mayor

Vernon mayor Victor Cumming is bringing attention to a nearly $30 million grant received by Greater Vernon Water (GVW) for a planned water filtration plant on Mission Hill. In a press release, Cumming said the grant was “the lightest reported story over the last four years and not even mentioned in the (past) campaign for mayor or council.” The grant, part of the roughly $40 million needed for the plant, is the result of “nine years of pressure by local politicians and Greater Vernon Water staff,” said Cumming.

UBCO looks at smart technology to safeguard drinking water

UBCO looks at smart technology to safeguard drinking water

Delivery of safe and high-quality drinking water is an essential public service, but it’s not easy to monitor water quality in real-time close to customers’ homes. Thanks to a new research partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, TELUS and the Regional District of North Okanagan, researchers at UBC’s Okanagan campus will begin to address this gap by leveraging new sensors to wirelessly monitor water quality in the distribution system.

Greater Vernon Water source switched

Greater Vernon Water source switched

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) is alerting customers of Greater Vernon Water (GVW) that the Kalamalka Lake water source has been turned off effective today, Wednesday, May 11. The decision was based on increased turbidity due to rain and spring run-off in the Coldstream Creek watershed. Water will be supplied from the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant until turbidity decreases in Kalamalka Lake. Customers who are not normally on the Duteau Creek water source will notice the water is much softer and has a low alkalinity and pH. This may be of interest to those customers who have in-home water treatment systems or aquariums.

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