A significant instrumentation failure Sunday night has put the entire water system for the Town of Osoyoos on a boil water advisory.
The overnight failure on Feb. 11 caused one of the water reservoirs to run dry, and left the main reservoir for the town’s domestic water system critically low.
People with weakened immune systems and wishing additional protection are being directed to take precautions when drinking, washing fruits and vegetables, making beverages or ice, or brushing their teeth.
Those residents are asked to either boil their water for at least one minute before using it or find alternative sources for the time being.
Town staff are in the process of placing signs throughout the community as well as systematic water main flushing to address the discolouration.
Water quality sampling is being collected, and the results will be known by Friday this week. They will provide the necessary information to determine whether the notices can be lifted.
The areas affected by the boil water advisory are below:
Town of Osoyoos:
*115th Street
*Meadowlark Drive
*Wren Place and Drive
*Raven Court
*Finch Crescent
*Swan Crescent
*Sandpiper Place
*Killdeer Place
*Curlew Court
South Rural Area:
*107th Street
*42nd Avenue
*26th Avenue
*12th Avenue
*6th Avenue
North Rural Area:
*Hwy 97 north of Hwy 3
*100th Avenue
*116th Avenue
*115th Avenue
*89th Street
The Penticton Western News has reached out to the Town for more information.
This latest water incident is a separate one from the boil water advisory for people connected to Rural Water District 8, which has been on an advisory since April 2023. That district draws water from Osoyoos Lake with limited treatment.
READ MORE: Osoyoos budget meeting sees scores of frustrated residents
The Town’s aging infrastructure has been the focus of much debate over the adopted and then rescinded budget for 2024. A large number of capital projects for the next five years are focused on the water system’s infrastructure.
