Gazette Grand Forks
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VOL 118 NO. 30
Cricket anyone? Page 22
Covert district on boil water advisory CRAIG LINDSAY
Grand Forks Gazette
Another local water district is in hot water with Interior Health over a recent test result that came back high for coliform. As a result, Covert Irrigation Watering District has had to send out boil water advisory notices to all of their customers. Covert, servicing the area by the Danvile border crossing, has 39 customers who are serviced by two pumphouses and two wells. They are one of three improvement (irrigation) districts (along with Sion and Grand Forks Irrigation) that provide water to the rural area. Robert Birtles, environmental health officer for Interior Health (IH), said that they require all water systems to provide samples for analysis. IH ensures that all water for domestic use meets the standards under the Drinking Water Protection Act and Drinking Water Protection Regulations. “In this case, a sample taken on July 13, we got the results back on the 15th, which was indicating that they had 29 total coliform bacteria and the system was actually put on boil water notification as a result of that sample result that came back,” said Birtles. “Subsequent to that we had the operator provide another sample which was also came back unacceptable.” Birtles said that when they receive a positive sample for coliform or E. coli they have to inquire as to what may have caused those results and determine if notification warning is needed and in this case it was deemed necessary. The minimum amount of coliform (and E. coli) is less than one. Birtles said before Covert can come off the boil water notification. they will need to provide more samples. “The typical response is to get them to flush their system and refresh the watering system,” he said. “We’ll get them to take more samples. If they get two consecutive days of negative samples then we would remove the boil water notification.” Birtles said if they continue to test positive, they would have to shock chlorinate the system because there may be something going wrong with the system. Birtles said systems occasionally do have upset conditions and the monitoring helps detect that and the remedial action is to reduce the risk to the users. Covert has had positive results through 2015 until the last two testings (July 13 and 16). On Aug. 25, 2014, Covert tested positive for two coliforms. On Oct. 7, 2013, Covert tested positive for one coliform. Subsequent samples in both cases were clean. On Aug. 20, 2012, Covert had one coliform. The recent boil water notice is the first Covert has had since tracking began 10 years ago.
Riders ready!
This weekend was a busy one for the Grand Forks BMX Club. Racing began Friday with 60+ riders taking part in the Warnicke Scholarship Race and continued on Saturday with the Race For Life, which is estimated to have raised $2,500 to send to BC Children’s Hospital Leukemia Ward. The feature on Sunday was the Provincial Championship Race with 113 riders particpating. Competition was tough but local riders did great, said club president Dylan Zorn. The track is often busy, particularly on Wednesdays, as from spring to fall, the BMX club gathers for weekly races. All age ranges get out on the track and try their best as they race their bikes over the tabletops, through the rhythm sections and around the berms. Della Mallette photo
City at Stage 2 restrictions despite weekend’s rain Gazette Staff
Stage 2 watering restrictions are still in effect despite this weekend’s rain. The manager of operations for the city, David Reid, said in a release Monday that the need for residents to continue to be vigilant in following Stage 2 water restrictions is more important than ever. “Even though the area has received a little rain, we are still a long way from escaping drought conditions in this valley.” The city maintains Stage 1 water restrictions throughout the year, allowing watering on alternate days in order to proactively manage water levels and water infrastructure. Due to the diminished snow pack and the low volume of rain to date with high heat, the
city has now implemented Stage 2 Water Restrictions, and may need to implement more restrictive conservation measures should the current warm weather trend continue, Reid stated. “Water restrictions help all residents,” he said. “It helps conserve water, reduces power to pump and treat the water and reduces costs to taxpayers.” If someone forgets and waters on the wrong day or time, they may find a friendly reminder in the form of a Water Smart yellow flag on their lawn. “These timely reminders are intended to increase awareness about the restrictions, as well as share water conservation tips,” Reid said. Stage 2 restrictions include: • Even numbered civic addresses: Water• See RESTRICTIONS page A7
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