The District of Barriere notified residents Tuesday, May 28, that they are hoping to be able to bring their main well (DP2) back online by Thursday May 30. Deep Well #2 went down Feb. 19, 2019, after the well’s reducing valve and flow meter stopped working, and causing a well shutdown that has required a long process to get it back up and running.
Learn More: Special Council Meeting held May 13 in Barriere regarding current water situation
In the meantime, the wells taking on the load have caused a problem with turbidity (brown water) in the pipes.
Learn More: Barriere residents receive water quality aesthetic advisory
On May 16, 2016, the District of Barriere posted a Special Notice advising the current well servicing the municipal water system was now showing in some areas to be over the Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) for manganese in drinking water.Water showing levels over the MAC level for manganese should not be used as drinking water for certain at risk populations, specifically bottle-fed infants. Interior Health advised that infant formula reconstituted (mixed) with tap water can be an important source of exposure to manganese for bottle-fed infants and they recommended that an alternate source of water be used to reconstitute (mix) infant formula.
Learn More: Drinking water advisory issued for infants in Barriere
That Water Quality Updated Advisory dated May 16, 2019, is still in effect at this time.
The notice of May 28, 2019, is advising people of the process that will be occurring as the main well, Deep Well #2 (DW2), is brought back on line over the following few days. The notice states, ” An unknown level of turbidity is expected in the lines as water starts entering the water system from DW2, which is situated on Spruce Crescent, while the new wells (PW1 and PW3) in Bradford Park, that have been supplying water during the DW2 shutdown, are reduced in volume. At the time of this notice, we are awaiting successful lab test results on the newly piped line and once those are received Interior Health will give the go ahead to connect the new piping into the main water system and bring DW2 back on line.”
Once the District is satisfied everything is working as it should be with the well they will be posting on the front page of their website (www.barriere.ca) a retraction of the Stage 2 Water Restriction that is currently in place for those on the municipal water system. At that time people will be able to go back to even and odd day watering (6am-10am and 6pm-10pm).
The notice states the earliest this could possibly happen is Thursday, May 30, but the District advises residents BEFORE YOU START IRRIGATING to check the District website or call the District office at 250-672-9751 to confirm you can start to irrigate.
It is expected at this time residents who are on the system “may or may not experience turbidity/coloured water as the lines begin to get flushed via the myriad of irrigation systems and hydrants throughout the District”.
The notice also states that there does appear to be areas in the system that are experiencing dark water more consistently than others, and this is indicating that sediment may have settled in those lines. Therefore the District is asking that “people be part of the solution by notifying the District office (250-672-9751 or at inquiry@barriere.ca) should they experience dark water AFTER they receive this notification so that the District can attempt to track the locations showing dark water and get it flushed out of that system as soon as possible. If you contact the District to notify of dark water at this time please include the time and the address where the dark water is showing up.