Watch out for this offshore storm main floating in Okanagan Lake.
Image Credit: City of Vernon
June 16, 2016 - 4:28 PM
VERNON - A large pipe continues to pose a hazard to swimmers and boaters in Okanagan Lake in Vernon.
Earlier this week, an offshore storm main rose to the surface of the lake near the point at Adventure Bay, off Tronson Road.
The pipe is used to move storm water from the subdivision on Tavistock Road down into the lake, and is supposed to be sunk to the bottom.
City of Vernon crews believe the pipe, which is floating roughly 250 metres offshore, rose to the surface during this week’s storm.
“After looking at it further, that’s what we’re thinking, that air got trapped in the pipe,” operations director Shirley Koenig says.
Engineers will continue to investigate — likely with the help of divers — to figure out exactly what caused the pipe to come up to the surface.
Koenig says this particular pipe was designed about 15 years and is not commonly used around Vernon.
The area has been marked by buoys and the city is reminding swimmers and boaters to steer clear of it.
“We’re emphasizing that everyone stay away from that area,” Koenig says.
There is no estimate on when the pipe will be fixed, although Koenig says it is still properly discharging storm water into the lake and not causing any further issues. It's possible the pipe will simply sink itself, however city crews will still investigate the cause.
The pipe is located in Okanagan Lake, near the point at Adventure Bay.
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