West 琉璃神社 councillor Rick de Jong has urged city staff to 鈥渄o what it takes鈥� to sort out colour and odour issues related to the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant (RVWTP).
鈥淲e鈥檝e spent $72 plus million on this treatment plant to deliver some of the best water in the country to residents we need to get there,鈥� he said during a staff update at council鈥檚 Oct. 8 meeting.
de Jong, who is on the RVWTP system, praised staff running the plant, adding potential budget requests to assist in its operation should be granted.
鈥淚f there is something more they need to improve the source water quality so that the plant can function at its best I鈥檓 all for seeing those ask items come forward sooner than later.鈥�
Some West 琉璃神社 residents on the RVWTP system have been dealing with smelly, brown-coloured water for months.
Engineering Manager Rob Hillis told council that commissioning the plant would take up to two years and possibly longer.
鈥淥ther impacts, including the McDougall Creek wildfire, has impacted the watershed around Rose Valley Lake so that will contribute to changes in source water quality,鈥� Hillis said.
Water quality is also affected by seasonal changes (spring/fall) in the lake, he added. In the summer, plant staff had to deal with manganese in the system, also a lingering effect of the McDougall Creek fire. Chlorine was introduced to the water system as a temporary solution to help alleviate the problem.
Hillis said additional aeration and intake improvements of Rose Valley Lake and alternatives to chlorine have been discussed to help resolve odour and discolouration.
Mayor Gord Milsom pointed out that without the plant the water quality would be significantly worse.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to reassure our Rose Valley Water Service Area customers that we have extremely rigorous public health guidelines that we must meet in partnership with the Interior Health Authority,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur water remains safe.鈥�
The mayor added that any changes in water quality would result in a public water quality advisory.
Residents concerned about water quality can contact the city at 778.797.2246 or email utilities@westkelownacity.ca.
