RMOW Community Water System - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

This facility was given a low hazard rating.
More information on hazard ratings.

Violations:
No violations were found during the inspection

Comments:
Annual assessment of the water system undertaken March 14, 2022 Water Quality: 1. Bacteriological: A total of 301 treated samples were submitted for bacteriological testing in 2020 which met the minimum required sampling frequency. One sample was positive for e coli or total coliforms indicating overall bacteriological water quality in the treated water was consistently excellent throughout the year. A number of additional raw (untreated) samples were submitted from the various sources throughout the year as one means of monitoring the source water quality on an ongoing basis for significant changes. A total of 156 were processed by BCCDC. 2. Chemical/Physical: Two sets of full water analyses were completed in 2021. A detailed review of all of the results by VCH is underway. Generally speaking the various water sources exhibit pH values below the Operational Guidance range; as noted a project is underway to address the resultant corrosivity of the water. Given the varied water sources this process will involve the design and installation of a series of individual treatment systems. The Cheakamus/Function treatment upgrade will be the initial undertaking with final design expected in the coming year and installation to follow. At this time the RMOW has proposed to continue advising all consumers to flush water until cold before drinking, and to educate private property owners regarding their responsibility for the condition and maintenance of their building’s plumbing in terms of minimizing potential exposure to metals deriving from the plumbing and fixtures on their property. A report on short term options for reducing metals levels in drinking water in municipal buildings has also been commissioned. 3. Drinking Water Protection: Source water protection continues to be an important factor in the ongoing provision of safe drinking water. We encourage an ongoing review of the current state of all water sources and an inventory of the areas adjacent to all water sources, and understand work is underway to update the Source Water Protection Plan in 2022. On site reviews of the 21 Mile Creek watershed should also continue on a minimum annual basis with a work plan developed from those required actions identified. Significant work has been completed related to implementing cross connection control measures throughout the RMOW as a result of adoption of the Cross Control Bylaw 2233 on Sept 03, 2019. VCH sees this as an excellent protective measure. Please review and update your Emergency Response and Contingency Plan (ERCP) as needed to ensure contact information remains accurate. As we discussed, consideration should be given to managing events such an interface wildfire - including a BWA should you need to augment supply with flow from back up sources. Water Demand: Extreme weather events in 2021 coincided with high water demand and resulted in a request to utilize surface water with >1.0 NTU turbidity for a period of 9 days (June 27 to July 5) when the RMOW issued a water quality advisory for those with very weak immune systems, and an additional period of 2 days (August 17-18). The requests were granted by VCH with conditions. VCH continues to support completion of an updated Long Term Water Conservation and Usage Plan in the near future. Infrastructure: The RMOW continues to follow the 2014 Asset Management Plan and replace/upgrade older infrastructure as required and with a view to ensuring good water quality within the distribution system. VCH recommends assessing reservoir security in 2022. Where separate water sources exist within private developments measures to protect the municipal water system must be incorporated into the design. As noted previously VCH has some concerns with respect to the presence of some of the water service piping which passes through private developments to supply further properties. As strata and other development are considered as a 'system within a system' and therefore exempt from the requirements of the Drinking Water Protection Regulations (DWPR) there is limited control over water quality within these properties; the piping arrangements within the private / strata property are left to the design engineer to follow good engineering practice. VCH advocates no further such servicing be considered by the RMOW. We will continue to review the service connection from the RMOW to these developments for the purpose of issuing a Construction Permit to the RMOW as well as assessing the need for backflow protection. Thank you for submitting your 2020 annual monitoring report. Please submit your 2021 annual report by June 30, 2022.