126 French Creek Water Service Area customers are being told stage 4 watering restrictions in place for the past week shouldn't last much longer. Water services manager Murray Walters said a slight off-yellow colour undetectable to the naked eye is clearing up daily. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

water woes

Water colour issue forces trucked in supply for Whiskey Creek residents

Aug 20, 2020 | 12:17 PM

PARKSVILLE —Steady improvements have been reported for Whiskey Creek’s water quality after a rare discolouration event.

Recent rains impacted their Crocker Creek source, leading to stage four watering restrictions for the past week and water to be trucked in for 126 residential customers.

“Last Thursday we got to the point where we couldn’t make water that met those guidelines, so we shut our plant down,” Murray Walters, RDN water services manager said. “The only water going into the reservoir at that time was trucked in from other places.”

Walters stressed the water is safe to drink and within Island Health safety standards.

He said at the current pace the outdoor watering ban impacting Whiskey Creek customers should be lifted by the end of the week.

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“It’s important to note that they’re paying for all of this water,” Walters said. “We’re trucking in water to keep their supply safe, but ultimately they’re paying for that. They have a vested interest in not using too much of it.”

Walters said the Whiskey Creek Water Service Area treatment plant has been producing its own safe water supply since last Saturday, which he said is still supplemented by outside sources for now.

An expected round of whipped up turbidity in Whiskey Creek’s water supply was “quickly dealt with” after rainfall about two weeks ago, Walters said.

“But this colour issue hanging on afterwards is a little bit different.”

Most communities between Cedar and Bowser currently fall under stage two watering restrictions.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes