For WATER EMERGENCIES after hours, call 250-868-5737.
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If you wish to be emailed about future Water Quality Advisories, please send your email address to info@bmid.ca .
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ALERT: PLEASE CONSERVE WATER, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 18, 2020
Further to the February 10, 2020 notification below, work is underway on the installation of a major connection to our Surge Tower to provide improved flow capacity and pressures to the north part of our water system.
As a result, the District is being supplied with water from Rutland Water Works. Water is being pumped up to our higher elevation service areas from Rutland flats. There may be minor water quality variations, however there is no change in the safety of water provided.
We request that all customers conserve water and use only what you absolutely need for indoor household activities for the next two to three weeks.
If you have any questions, contact us during normal office hours, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday at (250) 765-5169. Our customers will be notified when normal water supply service is restored. BMID appreciates your patience during this time.
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ALERT: TEMPORARY CHANGE IN WATER SUPPLY, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 10, 2020
Black Mountain Irrigation District is advising all customers in our service area of a temporary change in water supply. BMID is connecting a new transmission main to their existing Distribution system, which requires a shut down of the Mission Creek water supply. Water will be drawn from BMID groundwater wells and groundwater from Rutland Waterworks District during the construction period.
This is not a Water Quality Advisory. All water quality will continue to meet the Provincial Water Treatment Objectives and the requirements of Interior Health. Customers may notice a more mineralized, slightly harder water during this time.
The change of water supply is scheduled to start February 10, 2020, for a duration of approximately three to four weeks. Once the supply from Mission Creek is restored, another public notification will be issued.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your cooperation and patience during this time. If you have any questions, please contact BMID at (250) 765-5169. Thank you.
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January 10, 2020: CLARIFICATION ON WATER QUALITY ADVISORY (since RESCINDED)
This article is in response to the high level of concern generated by the CASTANET news article issued on their webpage on January 9, 2020. With the boiling pot of water and alarmist messaging, the article is misleading the public that there is imminent and dangerous risk from the water in BMID and also that BMID is not properly informing of public of such risk.
CASTANET stating that BMID has "UNSAFE WATER" is completely untrue and misleading.
On January 7, 2020, BMID issued a Water Quality Advisory to the media outlets and our sensitive customers list of the planned shut down to repair a leak in one of our transmission mains. We informed the public in the same way that we have in the past for prior water quality incidents. The leak resulted in the shut down of our Ultra-violet Light Disinfection Facility. This facility is one of several barriers that BMID has in place to protect the public. It is not the only barrier.
A Water Quality Advisory does not mean there is imminent risk, it means that the water quality has changed and that there may be increased risk. For this incident, the risk is extremely low. The watershed is frozen with good water quality at this time. BMID has weeks of test records from an external lab, Caro Analytical Services, that shows that there is no E.Coli or faecal matter in the water prior to chlorine disinfection. Chlorine disinfection contact time is longer than 12 hours before water reaches the first customer. That is approximately 6 times longer than what is required to inactivate Giardia Lamblia (Beaver Fever).
As required by our regulator, Interior Health, this advisory was issued as standard protocol as BMID has one less barrier in place. It was not issued because there is imminent risk. Should there be a Boil Water Notice, or a Do-Not-Drink the water notice issued, where we know there is heightened risk, there will be a much higher level of public engagement including more frequent media releases and street signs in our service area as per our standard protocol.
We are very aware of the sensitivities around the supply of water and can understand the concern of the public after reading the CASTANET article. It is unfortunate that the reporter did not contact senior BMID staff to get the story correct. Although we continually are upgrading our emergency reporting procedures, it is difficult to have a program that will be able to reach everyone.
If you are not on the direct e-mail list for advisories, please submit your e-mail to info@bmid.ca to be on the list for when advisories are issued or rescinded.
Thank you for your patience through this advisory.
Bob Hrasko, P.Eng.
Administrator