Dry conditions have led to concerningly low levels for Greater Vernon water sources and reservoirs, and a water quality advisory for all of Vernon could be the result.
Members of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (GVAC) were given an "early warning" Wednesday from Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) general manager of utilities Zee Marcolin, who said Greater Vernon Water is "concerned" about this year being another drought year, explaining the snowpack is less than last year and the region is in the same situation as a year ago, when conditions were similarly dry.
Marcolin said water levels in Kalamalka Lake are currently "very low," its weir is currently closed even though the Ministry of Environment usually has it open this time of year, and there isn't enough water to move from Duteau Creek to the Kalamalka Lake water source right now.
That could spell broad water quality impacts for Greater Vernon.
"We may be going into a water quality advisory for all of Vernon and anybody serviced by (Kal Lake) if we don't get rain," Marcolin said. "It is quite serious, and we're expecting if it's anything like last year we won't be filling our reservoirs either."
RDNO water quality manager Tricia Brett told The Morning Star Thursday that a water quality advisory would come into effect due to increased turbidity from snowmelts and runoff down Coldstream Creek. The annual milfoil removal, which is necessary and expected to begin soon, also worsens water quality as it stirs up the water source.
This does not usually affect Vernon drinking water quality, as when snowmelt runoff and milfoil harvesting take place, most customers are switched from the Kalamalka Lake water source to water from the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant, Brett said.
However, this year that course of action isn't possible.
"We do not have that option this year because of low snowpack and low water levels in the Duteau watershed reservoirs," Brett said in an email. "If we see the water quality degrade below the levels set by Interior Health and Greater Vernon Water, we will need to go on a water quality advisory for customers typically served by the Kalamalka Lake water source."
At the GVAC meeting, Marcolin said it appears the area is seeing an early freshet this year and turbidity is already starting to be seen.
Brett said depending on freshet conditions and when the milfoil removal starts, a water quality advisory may need to be issued in the next couple weeks.
In light of the issue, Marcolin said at the meeting that the proposed filtration system at the Mission Hill Water Treatment Plant can't come soon enough. The public is set to vote on borrowing up to $18 million to install the filtration system at the plant through an alternate approval process. The borrowing would not affect taxes or water user fees and charges because there is $17 million of existing Greater Vernon Water debt that matures this year.
"If we had the filtration plant I wouldn't even have to have this discussion," she said.
Another source of water quality anxiety has to do with algae blooms. Brett said while toxic algae blooms are not a concern right now, Greater Vernon Water is seeing increasing algae blooms on Kalamalka Lake due to increased nutrients.
"This is a broader concern that we will be investigating this year, specifically on Coldstream Creek," Brett said. "Algae blooms do not lead to a regular water quality advisory or boil water notice as toxic algae blooms cannot be addressed through boiling the water. It is a big concern for Greater Vernon Water."
She added that both of the aforementioned water quality concerns could be improved once the filtration system is completed.
