If you still have questions about water services, please contact Environmental Services at environmental.services@prrd.bc.ca or 250-784-3200.
General
- How do I sign up for an account?
- To sign up for a PRRD Water Account (powered by Flowpoint), visit prrdwater.com. Need help? Visit our Help page to see a step-by-step guide or watch our tutorial videos. Once registered, residents will be able to purchase water credits online any time of the day or night from their computer or other device and have access to potable water stations using their individual access code and pin.
- How much does water cost?
- Water from a PRRD Water Stations is dispensed from two separate hoses. The bulk fill hose that you fill your large tanks or large hauling vessels costs $3.00 per cubic metre. One Cubic Metre is equal to 1000 Litres. The bottle fill hose that you fill your drinking water jugs costs $3.00 per 18L bottle.
- Will my water account work for the City of Fort St John or City of Dawson Creek Water Stations?
- Your PRRD Water Account allows users access to the Buick Creek, Prespatou, Feye Spring, Boundary, and Rose Prairie (under construction) only. The Fort St John and Dawson Creek water Stations are provided by those municipalities and requires an account with them in order to use their systems.
- Can I be invoiced for water?
- Water accounts are all pre-paid, meaning you must pay for the water before loading your tank. Water credits can be purchased online through your PRRD water account or by calling/visiting a PRRD office nearest you.
- Do the water credits ever expire?
- No, water credits will remain on your account until they are used and do not expire.
What is happening with the Rose Prairie water station?
- The PRRD held an in person round table meeting with Rose Prairie residents on March 30, 2023 to discuss possible solutions for opening the Rose Prairie Water station and investigating alternative potable water sources for area residents. For more information on what is being done with the Rose Prairie water station please review the following:
- Rose Prairie Gas Removal Assessment and Options Report
- Rose Prairie Alternate Source Evaluation
- FAQs from March 30, 2023 Community Meeting
Questions about turbidity
- What is turbidity
- Turbidity is a water quality term that refers to the relative clarity of water. Turbidity occurs when fine suspended particles of clay, silt, organic and inorganic matter, plankton, and other microscopic organisms are picked up by water as it passes through a watershed. Turbidity levels are typically much higher in water from surface water sources such as streams, rivers, and lakes than from groundwater sources. Some surface water sources exhibit high turbidity levels during periods of high rainfall or snow melt (e.g. spring runoff). Measured in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), turbidity ranges from less than 1 NTU to more than 1,000 NTU. At 5 NTU water is visibly cloudy; at 25 NTU it is murky.
- Is turbidity a health concern?
- Turbidity is not so much a health concern as an indicator of health risk. Science has proven that as turbidity increases, the risk for gastrointestinal illness also increases—particularly for at-risk populations such as newborns, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems (e.g. those with HIV/Aids, undergoing chemotherapy, or taking anti-rejection drugs following a transplant).
- What is the Turbidity Index?
- The Turbidity Index is a messaging tool designed to
notify water customers of current turbidity levels and, therefore, the relative risk of drinking the water. The index shows whether water is Good (<1 NTU), Fair (1-5 NTU), or Poor (>5 NTU), and provides specific recommendations for each rating. The index will appear on participating water suppliers’ websites and through the media during a Water Quality Advisory or a Boil Water Notice. - Why is turbidity an important water quality indicator?
- Bacteria, viruses, and parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium can attach themselves to the suspended particles in turbid water. These particles then interfere with disinfection by shielding contaminants from the disinfectant (e.g. chlorine).
- What precautions should I take with turbid water?
- The Province of B.C. recommends that newborns and people with weakened immune systems drink boiled water or a safe alternative at all times if they are served by an unfiltered surface water source. When turbidity levels range from 1-5 NTU, IH and water suppliers recommend that children, the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, and anyone seeking additional protection drink boiled water or a safe alternative. When turbidity levels exceed 5 NTU, IH and water suppliers recommend that all users drink boiled water or a safe alternative.
- What are accepted water-industry standards for turbidity, and who sets them?
- Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality recommend that surface water suppliers aim for turbidity levels <1 NTU at the point of disinfection. The guidelines also recommend filtration for water from all surface water sources, and specific water quality parameters for each type of filtration used. These standards are reflected in B.C.’s Drinking Water Protection Act, and advocated by IH in its 4-3-2-1-0 treatment objectives.
- Why can’t we just get rid of turbidity?
- The majority of water suppliers in B.C.’s interior draw water from surface sources, and most surface sources exhibit some level of seasonal turbidity. Removing turbidity requires filtration, which is very costly, particularly for suppliers that service agricultural users.
