By Times Chronicle Staff
The Town of Oliver has issued a “Boil Water Advisory” based on laboratory results received from water samples taken from Rockcliffe Well. The advisory was sent out via the town’s Voyent Alert system at 12:50 p.m. on Thursday, July 17.
The Advisory in effect for residents of the Town of Oliver (System 3) and users receiving water from System 1 (areas are pictured in Red on the maps below).
Rochelle Lougheed, Corporate Officer for the Town of Oliver said the laboratory results indicated a “higher level of ‘background colony’ and under an abundance of caution and in consultation with Interior Health, we issued the advisory.”
Water samples are tested for microbial indicators which can include Heterotrophic plate counts (HPC), total coliform (TC), feacal coliform (FC) and Escherichia coli (E.coli), according to Canada’s National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health. When testing for these indicators other bacteria present in the water can also grow on the testing culture media, forming what are called “background colonies”. While background colonies themselves don’t indicate a health risk, their abundance can be an indicator of overall water quality.
The last time the Town issued a Boil Water Advisory was in April of this year and was the result of a mechanical failure that allowed non-chlorinated water to enter into the town’s water distribution system.
The Town says its “actively working to resolve the issue and restore normal water conditions” and this will include testing once a day.
Residents will be notified as soon as the Boil Water Advisory is lifted and it is safe to resume normal water use.
The following precautions are recommended:
- Boil water used for drinking purposes for at least one minute at a rolling boil prior to use;
- Boil water for activities where it may be ingested;
- Do not drink from any public drinking fountains in the affected area;
- People ay use the water for washing and bathing;
- Ensure that younger children and infants are sponge bathed.
The Boil Water Advisory pertains to Oliver System 3 water users (above map) and System 1 water users (map below).
