Update On When Greater Vernon/Spall Boil Notice Could Be Lifted

There is no quick end in sight for the boil water notice covering basically all of Greater Vernon.

The notice was issued Saturday afternoon by Greater Vernon Water and Interior Health after heavy rain and snow melt increased the turbidity in the Duteau Creek and Kalamalka Lake sources.

Regional District of North Okanagan chair Bob Fleming says testing of the sources is underway, but due to Interior Health’s mandated process, Thursday would be the earliest it could be lifted.

“The testing takes a day and change, probably two, and then once the samples are off, it’s not just us that looks at it, it’s Interior Health and they have to give the okay to go ahead,” Fleming tells Kiss FM.

Over 50-thousand residents are covered by the notice including people in Vernon, Coldstream, RDNO electoral areas B and C, and some areas of Electoral Area D and Spallumcheen (Stepping Stones sub-division).

Residents are being advised to boil their drinking water as a precaution, while Vernon Jubilee Hospital and local schools are having to using bottled water.

The notice is also having a big impact on local restaurants who have not been able to sell certain beverages like coffee.