Osoyoos working with Interior Health after manganese prompts water advisory
Water advisory explainedPhoto: ContributedImage of a tap and sink. The Town of Osoyoos says it's actively working with Interior Health regarding elevated manganese levels that prompted a water advisory. . .
Water advisory explainedPhoto: ContributedImage of a tap and sink. The Town of Osoyoos says it's actively working with Interior Health regarding elevated manganese levels that prompted a water advisory Tuesday. Tuesday afternoon, thetown issued a water quality advisorydue to high manganese concentrations on all water systems, including RDOS Area A water systems 8 and 9. Samples have been measured between 0. 125 and 0. 159 milligrams per litre, above Health Canada’s maximum acceptable concentration of 0. 12 mg/L. On Wednesday, the town said manganese is a naturally occurring mineral deposit within the aquifer from which water is drawn. "Intermittently, when water is pumped from the aquifer there can be an increased concentration of manganese that exceeds Health Canada’s maximum acceptable concentration for drinking water, at which time Interior Health coordinates with the Town to issue a Water Quality Advisory," said Osoyoos Operational Services Department, in an email. The department added that it continues to develop thenew surface water treatment plant, which will draw water from Osoyoos Lake. That plant is expected to remove manganese from the water and is projected to be complete by 2028. The town will have advisory updates in line with recommendations from Interior Health. A timeline for the duration of the advisory has not yet been established. "Town staff are conducting additional water samples and actively working with Interior Health. Interior Health will determine when the Advisory may be lifted, and the town will advise water users," the Operational Services Department added. For now, residents are advised to use an alternate safe source of drinking water, such as bottled water, when preparing baby formula for infants and young children. Boiling water will not remove manganese and may increase its concentration. According to Health Canada, elevated manganese levels may affect the nervous system, particularly in infants or other vulnerable persons. - With files from Colin Dacre