Vavenby residents can’t use water from North Thompson for at least one week

VAVENBY – Residents in Vavenby will have to use bottled water for all of their needs for at least the next week.

Thompson-Nicola Regional District says in a media release a public hearing was held last night, Jan. 18, where officials from the Ministry of Environment, Interior Health Authority and regional district attended.

They updated residents regarding the environmental impact of the diesel spill which occurred south of Avola Jan. 16 and the impact it has had on the Vavenby Water System.

According to the release, a representative from Interior Health confirmed the Vavenby Water System is currently under a do not use the water order. The health authority says residents should use bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, bathing and food preparation until further notice.

Boiling the water does not make it safe. The regional district expects the 'do not use order' to be in effect for at least the next week.

"A better assessment of the length of time can be made once test results of recent water samples are received back," the district says in the release. "It is expected that information about the initial results will be available to residents in the next couple of days."

The regional district will continue to take regular water samples and develop a remediation plan for the water system in consultation with Interior Health.

Vavenby residents are also being provided with bottled water until further notice. They can go to the Vavenby Fire Hall between noon and 7 p.m. to receive eight litres of water per person in each household per day.

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