Summerland urging residents to ration drinking water after storm

Summerlanders are being asked to minimize the amount of water they drink because no new water is entering the district's treatment plant.

The water in Trout Creek is looking hazy today, the District of Summerland said in a public release and last night’s thunderstorms are the suspected cause.

Trout Creek is where the Summerland Water Treatment Plant gets its water supply. In order keep the turbid water out of the reservoir and prevent it from contaminating the district’s stored drinking water, the intake has been closed.

“We are assessing the situation further and are asking the community to limit water consumption to minimal drinking water needs only, to conserve the water, while we assess the situation,” the release said.

“Water remains safe to drink but the reservoir has limited storage capacity and is not designed as a long-term storage solution.”

Fortunately a Water Utility Emergency Response Plan was recently approved by council to address this type of challenge.

Updated will be posted to the District website, Facebook page and Voyent Alert! app.

READ MORE: Newsom: California must boost water recycling, desalination

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