BC Hydro Outage – January 30th, 2024

Homeowners and Residents,

Please be aware, BC Hydro is experiencing a significant issue that will likely require the replacement of a power pole and equipment.  This outage also affects customers other than Hemlock Valley.

At this point we do not have an estimated timeline for it to be restored, but do anticipate this to be lengthy outage and power may not be restored until some point tomorrow.

For updates please visit https://www.bchydro.com/power-outages/app/outage-map.html

Thank you for your patience and understanding,

Hemlock Utilities

BC Hydro Power Outage – UPDATE (2)

Please be aware that BC Hydro is experiencing a power outage.  The outage occurred around midnight.

  • As of 11:03am, a crew is on it’s way and is estimated to be on-site around 12:05pm.
  • As of 12:30pm, BC Hydro Crews are on-site.  No estimated time of restoration of service has been provided.

For updates please visit https://www.bchydro.com/power-outages/app/outage-map.html

BOIL WATER ADVISORY AND WATER RESTRICTIONS LIFTED

To Hemlock Utilities Customers

Please be aware that effective October 10th, 2023 at 10:30am Fraser Health has authorized the lifting of the Boil Water Advisory for Hemlock Valley.  It is recommended that you run any faucet used for drinking water for up to 2-3 minutes before using for drinking.

We are also happy to report that the water levels in our reservoir have been holding near the top of the reservoir.  Therefore, we are lifting the Water Restrictions.  We ask that everyone please still respect that we are located at the top of a hill that we have limited water resources.  The team will be watching levels and may reinstate the restrictions if necessary.

An update on the well project.  The volume test has been completed, confirming the well should be a reliable source of water that can assist in supplying water to the village.  Engineering, licensing and permits are in process.

 

Thank you for your support,

Your Hemlock Utilities Team

WATER RESTRICTION – UPDATED

To: All residents and visitors of Hemlock Valley

UPDATE: WATER RESTRICTIONS FOR HEMLOCK VALLEY

Thank you to everyone who has restricted their water use, canceled or limited their visits to our community, cancelled short term-rentals, and have helped our team in finding leaks.  Your efforts, along with the changing weather have made a significant impact that is allowing us to relax some of the water restrictions.  Our Balancing Tank has now been refilled and the water plant has been running 24 hours a day for the last 72 hours and the reservoir is currently holding volume.

A special thank you goes out to the residents who have brought suspected leaks to the attention of our team.  If you see water flowing where you don’t believe it should be, please leave a message on our Utilities Emergency Line at 604-314-7852 so our team can investigate.

We are lifting the request for people to avoid visiting Hemlock Valley, however Water restrictions remain in effect, please still only use for responsible personal use.   A SIGNIFICANT USE OF WATER MAY RESULT IN THE RETURN TO ROLLING OUTAGES.

Water Restrictions:

  1. Limit Showers to 5 minutes or less
  2. Absolutely no filling or adding water to Hot tubs, Pools or Fountains
  3. Absolutely not watering of outdoor plants or lawns
  4. Absolutely no washing/pressure washing of vehicles, structures, roads or buildings

BOIL WATER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT

Please be aware that the boil water advisory will remain in effect until we have had at least 2 weeks of consistent water supply

Warning: Boil or Otherwise Treat Your Water Before Using

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

  1. Do not Drink the water without Boiling it first or otherwise treating the water.
  2. Boil water for 1 minute (rolling boil). Preferably use a Kettle so as to reduce the risk of burns. Let it COOL before using.
  3. You can choose to use Bottled Water
  4. Boiled or bottled water should be used for DRINKING, COOKING, BRUSHING TEETH, WASHING READY TO EAT FOODS & WASHING DISHES.
  5. Store treated water in sanitary containers & keep refrigerated

Note: Brita Water Filters will NOT provide treatment for microbes

On behalf of the Hemlock Valley Utilities Team – Thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding.

 

UPDATE: ROLLING WATER OUTAGES & Alternate water option

ATTN: All residents and visitors of Hemlock Valley

Updated: ROLLING WATER OUTAGES DUE TO SHORTAGE

Due to the lack of water availability, the rolling water outages will continue until we receive enough rain to fill the reservoir and fill the underground springs that supply our reservoir.  Our team currently are running the water treatment plant from approximately 7am to 6pm (or when the water runs out).  Note that if usage is more than supply, the water will be turned off earlier.

 

Reminder: ALTERNATE WATER SOURCE

  • A 3,000 Gallon tank is located in Parking Lot 4 (at the Corner of Laurel Road & Hemlock Valley Road) with water for Utility Customer Use
  • We ask that you Limit yourself to 10 Gallons per household per day
  • A Special thank you to Rapid Relief Team Global, as they will be filling this tank weekly with water to help support our community

 

NEW: Well Drilling

 

In December, we started down the path of adding 2 wells to our system.  We have attained permission to drill two sites that we have identified and our driller is hoping to start drilling later this week, we are hopeful that they will find a significant enough source that we can utilize.  Once we find water then the well needs to get tested for volume and water quality.  Once that is completed we then need to apply for a water license to use the water, engineering for treating and how to tie into our line, Fraser Health Permits, and then construction.    None of these stages are quick, but we are in contact with each of them and they understand the urgency.   We will get these tied into our system as quickly as possible, but with Licensing and Permitting there is a possibility that it could take a year or more.

 

 

SEVERE WATER RESTRICTIONS REMAIN IN PLACE – Until further notice, the following are the ONLY PERMITTED uses of water:

  1. Drinking (we encourage purchasing water bottles) (boil water advisory)
  2. Brushing teeth using only what is necessary (boil water advisory)
  3. Dishwashing, either by hand or using a high-efficiency dishwasher (no running water) (boil water advisory)
  4. Shower of 5 minutes or less, but only if a flow restrictor is in place (avoid showering daily if possible)
  5. Flushing of Toilets only when necessary “if it’s yellow let it mellow”
  6. Laundry, only full loads in High Efficiency washers.  Otherwise utilize a laundry mat in another community

ALL OTHER USES OF WATER ARE PROHIBITED, including but not limited to:

  • NO HOTTUBS
  • ABSOLUTELY NO FILLING OR ADDING WATER TO HOTTUBS, POOLS or FOUNTAINS
  • ABSOLUTELY NO WATERING OF PLANTS or LAWNS, INDOOR OR OUTDOOR (Including hand watering)
  • ABSOLUTLEY NO WASHING/PRESSURE WASHING OF VEHICLES, STRUCTURES, ROADS or BUILDINGS

Everyone needs to know and follow these restrictions, AND ANYONE WHO DOES NOT NEED TO BE IN HEMLOCK VALLEY SHOULD AVOID VISIITING.

 

Updated: BOIL WATER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT

Please be aware that the boil water advisory will remain in effect until we have had at least 2 weeks of consistent water supply

Warning: Boil or Otherwise Treat Your Water Before Using

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

  • Do not Drink the water without Boiling it first or otherwise treating the water.
  • Boil water for 1 minute (rolling boil). Preferably use a Kettle so as to reduce the risk of burns. Let it COOL before using.
  • You can choose to use Bottled Water
  • Boiled or bottled water should be used for DRINKING, COOKING, BRUSHING TEETH, WASHING READY TO EAT FOODS & WASHING DISHES.
  • Store treated water in sanitary containers & keep refrigerated

Note: Brita Water Filters will NOT provide treatment for microbes

 

Thank you and we apologize for the inconvenience,

Hemlock Valley Utilities