Landscape

Russet Bluff boil water notice downgraded to water quality advisory

The Cariboo Regional District has downgraded the Boil Water Notice for the Russet Bluff Water System to a water quality advisory. This Advisory remains in effect until further notice.

Interior Health has authorized the Cariboo Regional District to downgrade the Boil Water Notice for the Russet Bluff Water System to a Water Quality Advisory. This advisory is due to the use of untreated water from the lower water well, which is designated as groundwater source at risk of pathogens (GARP). The Water Quality Advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

Click here to see a map of the affected areas.

Under the new Water Quality Advisory, residents are no longer required to boil water prior to consumption or seek an alternate water supply. However, it is recommended that such precautions be taken for vulnerable residents including seniors, children, and residents with health concerns.

The Water Quality Advisory related to manganese concentrations in water sourced from the lower well also remain in effect. Residents are advised to refer to that advisory for further information. Interior Health has advised that boiling water from the system may increase its manganese concentration and is advising residents to secure an alternative water source to provide infants and young children with any water for consumption or food preparation.

The Water Quality Advisories will remain in effect until the water source is again switched to the upper well in the fall, at which time the Water Quality Advisories will be rescinded, and the public will be notified. Frequent water sampling will continue to take place as we continue to work with Interior Health.

The Regional District has planned two actions to mitigate future risks to residents, including adding a chlorination treatment system and investigating the costs for future manganese and iron mineral removal from the lower well. $35,000 has been budgeted from the system’s budget to pursue these improvements, which will reduce or eliminate the need for future water quality advisories. More information about these improvements will be available at a later date.

For more information about boil water advisories and service interruptions in the CRD and what to expect, visit cariboord.ca/water-notices-and-advisories. To receive updates on CRD water systems and other relevant information within the CRD, residents are reminded to subscribe to the latest news on our website at cariboord.ca/subscribe.