All remaining do-not-use water restrictions on the Slocan River north of the Winlaw bridge and Lemon Creek have been removed, reports Interior Health.
This means that water drawn from this area may be consumed, and that it is now safe for recreational purposes from a health perspective, says communications officer Lannea Parfitt.
“All of the water sample data provided by the Ministry of Environment and agencies contracted by Executive Flight Centre meet the Canadian guidelines for drinking water,” she says.
She adds, visual assessments of the containment booms and shorelines have not detected levels of fuel that pose health concerns.
Residents in this area are encouraged to thoroughly flush their drinking water and irrigation water systems, as there will be stagnant water in the lines.
Dorothy McKenzie, 71, who lives by the Passmore bridge, says she is growing impatient after nearly two weeks with no water. Her source was cleared for use on Thursday as restrictions were lifted south of the Winlaw bridge, but had not come back on by midday Friday due to concerns about the state of stagnant water in the lines.
It’s been a struggle for the elderly woman who is having a hard time maintaining sanitation in her kitchen without wash water. Flies are starting to gather and she worries about getting sick.
“Now I see what attracts flies,” she says.
McKenzie has been getting water brought to a barrel on her front porch from the Passmore water station. Still, having broken her leg three times, she has found this past two weeks of hauling water for the simplest of things as flushing the toilet a challenge.
“It just hurts. It’s painful. Carrying anything of weight is difficult for me, especially upstairs,” she says. “Those are the sorts of things, it’s just basic living.”
After making several calls Friday morning, the woman was assured her water would be on within the next few days. Plans to turn it on included the condition water wouldn’t be consumed until the lines flushed.
Domestic water system flushing procedures are now available on the Interior Health website interiorhealth.ca, after flushing, residents have any concerns or detect odours of fuel, please contact IH Health Protection at 250-420-2220. Residents should not use well water if there is a fuel smell in the well or at any tap.