Update: City of Revelstoke issues boil water advisory

Update: June 5, 3:45 p.m.:

The City of Revelstoke and Interior Health say the Revelstoke boil water advisory will remain in place until Monday, June 8 to allow untreated water to flush through the water system.

When the water main coupling break was discovered around 4 a.m. on June 5, staff routed untreated water into the water system in order to maintain pressure in the system and to maintain water pressure for firefighting.

City crews worked on the issue throughout the morning and had the issued fixed and the plant running by 11 a.m.

However, the untreated water still remains in the system and it will take time for it to flush through before the City of Revelstoke and Interior Health will lift the boil water advisory.

The City of Revelstoke’s engineering director Mike Thomas said city crews responded “quickly and efficiently” to the incident.

“This was a real-life test of our emergency response protocols,” Thomas said in a statement, “And while we have identified several opportunities for improvement, I am extremely pleased with staff’s response and the assistance we’ve received from Interior Health.”

The City is “hopeful” the advisory can be lifted by Monday, and will provide updates on their website and through local media.

Update:

In an email update sent at 10:40 a.m. on June 5, the City of Revelstoke’s development services department said the fixes to the broken pipe at the water treatment plant are complete, and chlorinated water is now being delivered.

However, City of Revelstoke staff continue to flush the system of untreated water and the boil water advisory remains in place.

Original story:

The City of Revelstoke issued a boil water advisory for Revelstoke water users early on the morning of Friday, June 5.

According to city officials, a water intake supply line at the Greeley Water Treatment Plant became disconnected from a well at around 4 a.m. on June 5, allowing untreated water to enter the distribution system.

Workers fix the broken pipe coupling at the Greeley Water Treatment Plant. Photo: City of Revelstoke

They advise that untreated water entered the water system and “all users should boil water before drinking” it.

The statement said crews are working on the problem and that repairs should be completed on the afternoon of June 5. It didn’t say when the advisory would be lifted.

The Revelstoke Mountaineer will provided updates when they are available.