Those who draw water from the North Thompson River between 11 km north of Avola, down through Clearwater to the confluence of the North Thompson and Clearwater Rivers, are allowed to use their private water systems as usual after Interior Health lifted the water advisory put in place due to a diesel spill on Jan. 5.
The advisory was placed on the water users after a semi-trailer truck crashed on Highway 5, spilling diesel fuel into the North Thompson River from a punctured fuel tank. This was the second spill on the river with the first taking place on Dec. 31, 2018.
Water sampling done by Ministry of Environment, an environmental consultant, and the Thompson Nicola Regional District have all shown the risk of contamination from the spill to the river is low.
If users notice any changes in the water, such as a fuel odour or an oil-sheen in the water, they are asked to stop using the water and have their water tested.
The Avola (Improvement District) water system wasn’t impacted by this spill; however, it’s still on a pre-existing Boil Water Notice.
In general, surface water sources have a higher chance of external contamination and Interior Health recommends having your water tested regularly and installing treatment if necessary.