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MLA joins RDEK in urging testing of Wasa Lake
Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald is calling on Interior Health (IH) to pick up the slack in a “legislative vacuum” surrounding lake water safety at Wasa Lake following recent flooding.
Macdonald is echoing the Regional District of East Kootenay board of directors, which July 5 voted to state their concerns to IH regarding a lack of communication concerning safety conditions of Wasa Lake.
“Residents and users of Wasa Lake are unsure about the safety of lake water following recent flooding, and a legislative vacuum means no government agency is responsible for this public safety issue,” Macdonald stated in a July 8 press release.
‘Not within our mandate’ is a common refrain as local government representatives look to the provincial government for assurances that Wasa Lake’s water is safe, the release noted.
“High water at Wasa Lake has left a number of private wells and septic tanks fully flooded and many remain underwater,” said Macdonald. “Absence of water testing means that residents and water users have no assurance that it is safe to swim and recreate in the lake.”
Testing of private wells is not covered by Interior Health. Testing of water at public beaches may be done, but this does not cover the wider recreational use of the lake beyond the public beach.
“In the end, this is a public health matter, and should be covered within the mandate of Interior Health. We need to know if the water is safe, and if it isn’t, the public needs to be made aware,” Macdonald said.
Representatives from IH were at a community meeting on Wednesday, July 10 at the Wasa Community Hall to provide information and answer questions.
The move was a follow-up to a letter = been sent to the CEO of Interior Health = expressing concern with the lack of information on water quality and water testing provided to residents of the Wasa Lake area during the current flood event by the RDEK.
IH has been requested to initiate water testing of Wasa Lake and communicate the results to residents, issue a water advisory (if required) for the Wasa Lake area due to the flood and the potential for contamination of water sources, and provide information to residents explaining how to test their wells.
Lead photo by Krista Nebloch
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