When you take a drink of water, shower, water your garden or wash your car, have you ever paused to think about the journey your water takes from the source to your taps?
If you’re among tens of thousands of people in the Interior region who rely on the city for your water supply, it’s easy to take for granted we have access to safe, clean drinking water. On the other hand, if you’re on a small water system, you likely have a more intimate knowledge about who provides and treats your water.
You might be surprised to know the Interior is home to close to 2,000 permitted water system providers and operators – a person or organization that supplies and/or treats water. Some water system operators supply water to as few as a half dozen homes or an RV park. Cities like Kelowna and Kamloops provide water to tens of thousands of residents.
Drinking water – and knowledge – for everyone
Water is like air – we often don’t pay attention to it until there’s a problem.
Almost all of us have at one time or another been faced with a water advisory: a quality advisory, a boil water notice, a do not consume, and in extreme events, do not use. In fact, under B.C.’s Drinking Water Protection Act, water operators must have processes in place to communicate water advisories to users to keep people safe.
But you can take steps to get to know your water better—and protect your health—by learning who is responsible for treating your water, and safely delivering it to your home.
In 2017, Interior Health launched Drinking water for everyone to make it easier for residents to find their water supplier, and stay on top of advisories. Click on the site’s interactive map and you’ll find your water supplier, contact information and whether there are any current advisories.
“Water system providers are out there working hard to make sure your water is clean and safe. During wildfire season, they ensure there’s enough water flowing to fight fires,” says Ivor Norlin, manager of the Drinking Water Systems program at IH. “We encourage water consumers to get to know who their supplier is no matter how big or small they are.”
With some larger water suppliers – the City of Kelowna for example – you can find your provider on the City’s website, and sign up for notifications. Other regions, like the Regional District of Central Kootenay use third-party apps like Voyent Alert for its water notifications. Explore your city or regional district’s website to see what information on water they offer, or visit Drinking water for everyone.
Reliable, safe and clean water is a collaboration
Providing reliable, safe, and clean water takes resources: time, money, people and systems. Most importantly, it takes people working together with shared goals and vision.
Interior Health plays a key role in regulating and protecting drinking water. Our Environmental Public Health (EPH) office and environmental health officers (EHOs) work with suppliers to ensure they know how to comply with the Drinking Water Protection Act, and make their water supply safe.
Interior Health’s EPH office also issues water advisory notifications, and fields requests from residents to investigate water suppliers when concerns or complaints aren’t resolved.
Christine Sweezey is an EHO in Williams Lake—and is passionate about water. Like many others, she’s concerned about drought this summer. “What I’m trying to teach my suppliers and operators these days is the importance of water preservation and drought emergency plans, and how to ensure water quality in dry conditions,” she explains. “I’m also working with them to expand water sampling and treatment.”
“EHOs like Christine work with operators to assess their risks and opportunities for improvements,” adds Ivor. “Water consumers also have a role to play in giving feedback—you should always feel free to contact your water supplier if you have concerns or issues with your water quality. If your issues are unresolved, that’s where we can come in. We want to hear from you so we can all work together to make drinking water safe.”
World Water Day
March 22 marks World Water Day. This year’s theme is Water for Peace.
“As climate change impacts increase, and populations grow, there is an urgent need to unite around protecting and conserving our most precious resource. Public health and prosperity, food and energy systems, economic productivity and environmental integrity all rely on a well-functioning and equitably managed water cycle.”
More stories in this series
How you can protect and preserve our drinking water
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