Province to cover cost of sandbag removal in South Okanagan

PENTICTON – Keep sandbags in place, even though high water levels appear to have peaked, says the Regional District as it announces there will be provincial funding for the eventual clean up on private properties.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is asking private property owners to maintain sandbags and other flood protections in place as windstorms and boat wake still have the potential to cause flooding and shoreline erosion.

The 500,000 sandbags distributed will be collected by local governments while the province will pay for the cost of cleanup, according to a media release.

“We are incredibly grateful to the province for covering the costs incurred by local governments for the removal of sandbags from private properties,” regional district chair Karla Kozakevich says in the release. “Residents should keep sandbags in place for now. Local governments will be organizing clean up teams to remove sandbags in the near future. Residents will be advised once the programs are developed as to the potential steps and timelines."

The District says property owners are being asked not to dump sandbags along creeks or lakes because of concerns of damage to the aquatic environment. Sandbags contaminated after coming in contact with septic waste, bacteria or oils should be left for collection once the clean up begins.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 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.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.