Water Stewardship Information Sources
| ID | 1917 |
|---|---|
| Citation | Water Supply Association of BC and Interior Health Authority. 2007. Discussion Paper: A Common Approach to Drinking Water Improvements for the Okanagan Region. Interior Health Authority. |
| Organization | Interior Health |
| URL | http://www.obwb.ca/fileadmin/docs/iha_wsa_wtpaper.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | This paper provides historical context for Okanagan Water Systems and outlines a common approach for Water Suppliers and Interior Health towards drinking water improvements within the Okanagan Region. The Water Supply Association of BC (WSABC) and the Interior Health Authority (IHA) believe that on-going open discussions should take place on the topic of drinking water improvements. The discussions must consider all aspects of water supply in order to achieve the best overall long term direction for safe water for the Okanagan Valley. Much of the discussion has been around the issues of turbidity reduction and filtration. Notwithstanding this, discussions amongst stakeholders on the broader aspects of a safe water supply including reduction of drinking water risks, source protection, enhanced disinfection, implementation costs and other factors that impact the provision of safe drinking water are seen as a desirable outcome. The majority of the residents in the Okanagan Valley obtain their drinking water from unfiltered surface waters. There has been considerable discussion over the past 18 months regarding the degree of human health risk posed by unfiltered water, and the best strategies for attaining water treatment improvements. The Drinking Water Quality Improvement Program was implemented in the Okanagan in the late 1990's resulting from discussions between Water Suppliers and Interior Health. The program has now been adopted throughout the Interior Health region. The intent of the program is to ensure consistent program delivery and to provide the means for a documented and verifiable management system for promoting and protecting public health. This program addresses long term plans and the desire to accomplish incremental improvements over time. drinking water, water supply, water quality |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Okanagan |
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| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
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