Water warning in place for 2,500 homes
More than 2,500 homes in Penticton will remain under a boil water advisory for at least another day. Heavy rain and snowmelt on Friday caused the water main carrying water to the east side of Penticton to wash out where it crosses under Ellis Creek.
“We have major work ahead of us, full crews and contractors will be on the job Monday,” Penticton CAO Peter Weeber said on Sunday evening.
“Our flood control systems have been handling whatever has been coming down the mountain alright. There's a lot of debris washing up on the beaches but overall we've been pretty lucky so far compared to other communities.”
As a precaution, the City of Penticton posted a boil water advisory Saturday morning for all of Naramata Road and Valleyview Road areas, the area east (uphill) of Government Street and west of Columbia Street and Evergreen Drive.
According to the City's website, a water quality advisory is the lowest-level notification and is used in situations where the health threat to the public is modest. Those over the age of 65, toddlers under age 2, and people with chronic illness or weakened immune systems are most vulnerable.
Residents are advised to bring their water to a rapid, rolling boil for at least one minute prior to using it for domestic purposes, including drinking, making infant formula and juices, cooking, brushing teeth, washing raw foods and making ice. Alternatively, residents may use bottled water.
The water quality advisory will be in effect until the City of Penticton and Interior Health deem the water safe to drink.
Meanwhile, staff with the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen had a busy weekend listing Naramata, Glenfir, Indian Rock, rural Princeton, Similkameen, Tulameen, Osprey Lakes, rural Keremeos, rural Oliver and Missezula as areas for potential flooding concern.
A boil water advisory is in effect for all residents of Sage Mesa, Faulder, West Bench and rural Summerland.
Flooding from Chute Creek Saturday left several roads impassable near Naramata. Continued high water created localized flooding.
Those requiring sandbags may contact the RDOS emergency operations centre at 250-492-0237 or 1-877-6103737,
Regular updates will be posted to both the City and RDOS website. On the net: www.rdos.bc.ca www.penticton.ca