Another drain on Okanagan Lake

by Castanet Staff - May 25, 2011 / 5:00 am

City of Kelowna UV intake installation

After two years in the making the Glenmore-Ellison Improvement District (GEID) can commence construction on an Okanagan Lake intake and pump station. The application was approved by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on May 24.  The multi-million dollar project is expected to significantly reduce the turbidity levels and cut back the number and extent of water advisories for the system.  Currently the GEID gets its water from Mill Creek, which is running at high turbidity levels and often forces boil water advisories.Darren Schlamp, Operatoins Manger of GEID, says in order to remedy the situation in the most cost effective manner, is to build a pump station on Okangan Lake just north of McKinnley landing. "Drawing water from the lake will have a lot less colour and a lot less turbidity, which is comprehensible to the water for the City of Kelowna." The Kelowna water utility currently sources its water from Okanagan lake.