Greater Vernon Water → Planning

Planning

OPEN HOUSE - WEST SWAN LAKE WATER DISTRIBUTION UPGRADES

Greater Vernon Water is hosting an open house on the West Swan Lake Distribution Separation Project, separating drinking water mains from pipes supplying water for agricultural uses.  The proposed design will be on display to show where the pipelines will be built and customers can find out about opportunities to install new fire hydrants.  Construction is expected to begin Spring 2012.

When:  Thursday, February 2nd from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Where: Schubert Centre, 3505 - 30th Avenue, Vernon

For more information or to ask questions if you can’t attend this open house, contact Rod Pleasance, Project Engineer, at 250.550.3796

 

A Master Water Plan (MWP) is a long-term water utility infrastructure plan that ensures a reliable, cost-effective supply of water to meet present and future needs.

The Master Water Plan was amended in 2004 to ensure that our community’s present and future water quality and water supply needs, as well as critical health protection goals, are met in an efficient and financially sustainable manner. A key feature of the plan is the separation of irrigation and domestic water systems.

The start of operations at the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant marks a significant step towards realizing the domestic water quality improvements envisioned by the Master Water Plan. Treatment of the Duteau Creek source addresses water quality issues affecting Greater Vernon residents, provides operational flexibility in conjunction with the Kalamalka Lake source, and allows maximum use of existing water licenses.

As currently required by the Interior Health Authority (IHA), the addition of Stage 2 (Filtration) is scheduled to be completed in 2015. Construction cost is estimated to be $20 million. The Regional District of North Okanagan is now undertaking formal cost evaluations.


 

Watershed Assessment and Protection Plans
A watershed, or basin, is a land area from which water drains towards a common point. A watershed assessment plan characterizes a drinking water source and its immediate watershed, identifies current and forecasts future drinking water hazards and vulnerabilities, characterizes the risk posed by each hazard, and provides recommendations to reduce impacts on the source intake and/or watershed.  A watershed protection plan is a coordinated framework for implementing prioritized and integrated water quality protection and restoration strategies driven by environmental objectives.

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) has undertaken a number of watershed assessment and protection plans in recent years.

Duteau Creek:
A Duteau Creek Watershed Assessment was completed in 2008.  In 2009, a Stakeholder Advisory Committee comprised of provincial and federal agencies, licence & tenure holders and First Nations, set priorities to reduce risks to drinking water. Since then, collaborative works completed in the watershed have included a Cattle Impact Reduction Plan and Works in conjunction with ranchers, forestry licensees and provincial ministries.

Challenges to maintaining a healthy Duteau Creek watershed include:

  • Livestock access to creeks
  • Illegal dumping
  • Mountain pine beetle and other forest diseases
  • Off-road vehicle use
  • Camping in non-designated areas
  • Drought
  • Climate changeErosion

Kalamalka Lake:
A watershed assessment was initiated for Kalamalka Lake to compile new research and known data to identify the North Kalamalka Lake intake’s strengths and its liabilities, and to identify future needs to maintain excellent quality, cost-effective water supply to the RDNO-Greater Vernon Water system.

On-going projects include:

  • Kalamalka Lake Bacterial Source Tracking
  • Coldstream Creek Sensitive Habitat Mapping and related projects
  • Kalamalka Lake Foreshore Inventory Mapping

Challenges to maintaining a healthy Kalamalka Lake watershed include:

  • Livestock / horse access to creeks
  • Waterfowl/gulls on beaches
  • Stormwater outfalls
  • Lack of riparian vegetation
  • Illegal dumping
  • Mountain pine beetle
  • Transportation corridors
  • Manicured lawns to stream banks
  • Development up to the stream's edge
  • Recreational water use
  • Erosion
  • Urban and agricultural runoff
  • Overuse of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers


Drought Management Plan:
A Drought Response or Management Plan is a strategy that outlines the actions to be taken before, during, and immediately after a drought to reduce its impacts.


Please direct enquiries to:
Phone:  250-550-3700
Fax:      250-550-3701
E-mail:  engineering@rdno.ca