'Buried and destroyed': Lake Country water main break fixed, but damage assessment continues | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kelowna News

'Buried and destroyed': Lake Country water main break fixed, but damage assessment continues

Two cars were buried at the Voyager RV Centre lot due to the water main flooding.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Voyager RV Centre

LAKE COUNTRY - Crews toiled long into the night yesterday to fix the broken water main in Lake Country, but a boil water notice affecting hundreds of customers is expected to last well into next week.

Yesterday, May 23, a water main near the intersection of Glenmore Road and Okanagan Centre Road broke, flooding Highway 97 and triggering a boil water advisory in the area. Karen Miller, communications officer with the District of Lake Country, said the break happened sometime around 10:30 a.m.

Miller said crews worked until 11 p.m. to fix the break, which involved shipping in parts from Vancouver. The cause of the break is being investigated.

The water main break caused no shortage of headaches for motorists and Lake Country residents. Voyager RV Centre, which has a lot on Highway 97 near the flood zone, was on the receiving end of major water damage.

Jason Friesen, vice-president for Voyager, said they noticed water pouring into the upper portion of the lot at 10:30 a.m. yesterday. The water carried loads of gravel and rocks with it, covering the lot, which mainly serves as employee parking, with dirt. The employees acted fast and moved most of the vehicles out of the way, but two cars were buried and destroyed.

Crews worked until 11 p.m. Thursday, May 24, 2019 to fix the broken water main in Lake Country.
Crews worked until 11 p.m. Thursday, May 24, 2019 to fix the broken water main in Lake Country.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/District of Lake Country

"It's unbelievable," Friesen said.

Friesen said a landscaping company help them clean up the area yesterday, removing 10 truckloads full of rocks and gravel. Friesen said there was additional damage to the lot's pavement and retaining walls, which are being assessed by their insurance companies.

Miller said anyone who suffered property damages from the flooding should contact through home owner's insurance and proceed from there.

While the main line has been fixed, the boil water notice is still in effect. All 2,500 Lake Country properties connected to the Okanagan Lake water source are asked to boil their water for one minute before drinking it or using it to wash vegetables, fruit or toothbrushes.

More than 100 Kelowna water utility customers at the north end of the city have also been told to boil their water.

The break increased the turbidity in the water, making it discoloured. Miller said the water, which is being tested regularly, needs two clear days in a row before it can be safe for consumption. She guesses the boil water notice could stay in place until Wednesday, May 29.

Residents can receive up-to-date notices on the the boil water advisory by signing up for email alerts at www.lakecountry.bc.ca/subscribe.

A full map of the areas affected by the boil water notice can be found here.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Sean Mott or call (250) 864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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