Castlegar will issue a city-wide water quality advisory for a few days next month while it tests an old well as a potential emergency water supply.
Assistant utilities manager Aaron Geck told city council this week that the testing is scheduled for April 14 and 15, and the advisory will be in place for two or three days.
The advisory is not a boil order, but is used in lower-risk situations. For most people, the water will still be fine to drink, but those with weakened immune systems should consider alternative drinking water sources.
The city plans a blitz to get the word out, including sending Voyent Alert! messages.
Geck explained the well that will be tested is behind city hall and predates the city’s adoption of the Arrow Lakes as its water supply.
The city recently relicensed the well following a test last year to assess its drawdown level. However, Geck said they haven’t yet tied the well into the water system to see what sort of volume it can produce.
“So this is really important to confirm that and see if it can keep up with usage and supply the city in the case of an emergency,” he said.
Geck said there are many situations where the old well could come in handy, such as a problem with the Celgar pump house, a forest fire on Arrow Lakes Drive, or a compromised transmission line.
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