Update: April 16, 2025 - 2:53pm
The Regional District of North Okanagan advises Greater Vernon Water (GVW) customers that due to improvement in lake water quality, the Kalamalka Lake water source will be turned back on April 17, 2025.
The Kalamalka Lake source was turned off due to increased turbidity (cloudiness) on April 8, 2025 (notice below). The turbidity has returned to an acceptable level, so the source has been turned back on.
GVW is returning to normal operations by supplying water from our two sources; the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant supplied by Duteau Creek and the Mission Hill Water Treatment Plant supplied by Kalamalka Lake. When the planned filtration system is commissioned at the Mission Hill Treatment Plant, interruptions due to seasonal turbidity will no longer be required.
Customers who are normally on the Kalamalka Lake source will notice the return to harder water that has a higher alkalinity and pH. This may be of interest to those who have in-home water treatment systems or aquariums.
Customers may notice some cloudiness or sediment in their water because of the change in direction of flow. If customers experience this, please run a cold water tap closest to where the water enters your house before your hot water tank, any in home filtration, or taps with aerators. An outside tap is preferred.
If you have any questions, please contact the RDNO Utilities Department at 250-550-3700.
Do you know of a water main break or other water emergency?
Go to rdno.ca/emergencies for contact information, including information on what to do in the event of a water main break.
Original notice - April 8, 2025
The Regional District of North Okanagan advises Greater Vernon Water (GVW) customers supplied by the Kalamalka Lake Water Source that the Mission Hill Water Treatment Plant (MHWTP) will be shut down effective today, April 8, 2025, due to increased turbidity.
The decision to remove the Kalamalka Lake water source was based on rapidly increasing turbidity at the intake in Kalamalka Lake due to rain and spring run-off in the Coldstream Creek watershed. Water will be supplied from the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant (DCWTP) until turbidity decreases in Kalamalka Lake to an acceptable level.
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.
Due to current low water storage levels in the Aberdeen Plateau reservoirs supplying the DCWTP, shutting off the Kalamalka Lake source is not an ideal option as the storage levels in the reservoirs must be held in reserve in case there are continued drought conditions. GVW is currently on Stage 1 water restrictions and customers are asked to conserve water as much as possible. For more information on the Stage 1 water restrictions, go to rdno.ca/gvw/restrictions.
The installation of filtration at the MHWTP, where Kalamalka Lake water is treated, is currently in the design phase. This project is critical to the long-term security of this water source. Once it is installed and commissioned, filtration will remove turbidity so that these types of events will not impact service to customers.
Staff will notify customers when the Kalamalka Lake water source is turned back on.
Do you know your water source?
Go to rdno.ca/gvw and click on the Water Source Map drop-down to search for your property to show what water source you are normally on.
Do you know of a water main break or other water emergency?
Go to rdno.ca/emergencies for contact information, including information on what to do in the event of a water main break.
Where can I find updates?
Updates will be posted to www.rdno.ca/news (filter by Water Notices) and the RDNO’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RDNorthOkanagan. You can also subscribe to receive email updates at www.rdno.ca/subscribe.
If you have any questions, please contact the RDNO Utilities Department at 250-550-3700.
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