Kelowna's Water Quality Advisory has been partially lifted

If you live north of K.L.O. Road, you’ve been given the green light to consume tap water again.

The City of Kelowna Water Utility, in consultation with Interior Health, has lifted the Water Quality Advisory for residences and businesses north of K.L.O. Road.

Water Quality Advisory partially lifted: City of Kelowna Water Utility https://t.co/jgTur3FRlj

— City of Kelowna (@cityofkelowna) June 19, 2017

The Water Advisory for City of Kelowna Water Utility customers south of K.L.O. Road remains in place.

The advisory was initially issued on Friday, May 12th, nearly one week after Kelowna’s flooding issues began.

At the time, elevated turbidity levels were noted at City water intakes, meaning the water contained fine suspended particles of clay, silt, organic and inorganic matter, plankton and other microscopic organisms.

“We’ve been monitoring turbidity levels and the Poplar Point intake now has consistently low levels allowing us to lift the advisory for the north part of our utility area,” said Water Quality & Customer Care Supervisor, Ed Hoppe. “We’ve also seen an improvement in the water intakes that feed the south part of Kelowna but lake levels are still high and turbidity has been fluctuating.”

A Water Quality Advisory map has been created to further define where the advisory has been lifted and where it remains in place.

“This is the first time we’ve needed to issue an advisory in over 20 years,” said Hoppe. “With the extraordinary spring we’ve been experiencing, we certainly appreciate the patience and understanding of those within the City of Kelowna Water Utility and we expect to be able to lift the advisory for all City utility customers soon.”

Kelowna residents are served by one of five water providers throughout the city.

A number of Water Quality Advisories remain in place.