Appreciate clean water

Dear Editor: Kelowna can supply 30 million liters per day, every day of the year, of treated sewage water (now going into the Okanagan Lake at KLO) and West Kelowna can supply 10 million liters of treated sewage water every day to the west side irrigations systems which will also come under the Kelowna and Interior Health Authority control — in time.

Rose Valley’s water system is in need of a treatment plant if this water is to meet IHA status. Just $42 million proposal. If west side used only Okanagan Lake water for domestic purposes, then this plant is not needed for irrigation water.

The $42 million, or part of, could be used for the pumping station and ultra violet system instead. Rose Valley water could still be used for irrigation — no treatment needed. It seems needless to treat all Rose Valley water for both domestic and irrigation purposes.

The 10 million liters per day of sewage treatment out flow — now going into Okanagan Lake on the west side — could be used to supplement the existing irrigation supply. No need to add this sewage treatment outfall to the lake.

Kelowna could do the same, use the sewage treatment plant out fall to supplement the irrigation supply thus sparing the Okanagan Lake from taking the 30 million liters of sewage treatment outfall every day.

So, what is the benefit of this idea?

The Okanagan Lake water quality will improve greatly and will be available for domestic consumption.

How will this extra irrigation supply affect the mountain lakes?

The mountain lakes will thus be able to discharge clean water to the creeks leading into Okanagan Lake thus improving the water quality of the lake even more.

Kelowna city and the water business should look to the future and not make expensive mistakes that will come back to bite the future generations. Do not be afraid to do something different, make this work, make the new system smart and efficient.

This new idea should specify that all Okanagan domestic water consumers drink from the lake, only then will everyone think and appreciate our supply of good drinking water. Have a glass of water , on me, and think also of the fish. Please note, City Of Vernon already does it this why. Can’t we? Time for change for the better, work into the future. Jorgen Hansen

Kelowna