The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board of Directors are not impressed with the Interior Health Authorities (IH) lack of presence during the recent flooding crisis at Wasa.

The board voted unanimously July 5 to back a motion made by Electoral Area E director Jane Walter to send a letter to the IH “expressing concern with the lack of information on water quality and water testing provided to residents of Wasa Lake during the current flood event.”

The RDEK is asking IH to initiate water quality testing of Wasa Lake and communicate the results to residents and issue a water advisory for the Wasa Lake area due to the flood and the potential for contamination of water sources.

Additionally, the board wants the IH to provide information to residents explaining how to have their wells tested for potential contamination from floodwaters.

While support of the motion was unanimous, District of Elkford Mayor Dean McKerracher, who has also been dealing with flooding, suggested timing is of the utmost importance – as in IH response has to be immediate.

“By the time they get the letter people will have been swimming in the lake for a couple of weeks,” he said, suggesting a phone call would be better.

Walter noted she was meeting with IH officials following the Friday board meeting and hoped she would get a satisfactory response. If not, she would contact RDEK administration to expedite the letter.

District of Sparwood Mayor Lois Halko suggested an invitation be extended to IH officials to attend a future board meeting to “explain lines of communication. Who is responsible and accountable for what in this really important issue? Water quality is so important.”

IH Communications Officer Karl Hardt told e-KNOW July 8 a letter has been received from the regional district.

“We will also be contacting them directly to discuss their concerns and how we can work more effectively with them,” he said.

For more public health information related to flooding as per IH:

https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/EmergencyPreparedness/Pages/default.aspx

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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