Police investigating after suspected ‘intentional damage’ to West Kelowna reservoir

Properties subject to the do not consume advisory are outlined in red in this map from the City of West Kelowna's website (westkelownacity.ca)

Residents have been advised not to consume their tap water and police are investigating after what they say may have been “intentional damage” to a reservoir in West Kelowna, B.C., Thursday.

City staff discovered the damage after receiving an alarm notification from the Tallus Ridge reservoir, West Kelowna RCMP said in a news release Friday morning.

Police did not elaborate on the nature of the damage, saying only that staff had “located what they believed to be intentional damage to the reservoir itself.”

“As a result, the City of West Kelowna has issued a do not consume water advisory for a portion of the Rose Valley water service area which includes Tallus Ridge and Shannon Woods,” the RCMP release reads.

The city’s website describes the advisory as “precautionary,” and the result of “a potential unauthorized access event.”

“Residents in the affected zone are asked not to use tap water for drinking or food preparation until further updates are provided,” the city said.

In an update Friday afternoon, Mounties said they had identified suspects, though no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

Police are still asking anyone who was in the area of Big Sky Drive between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and “observed any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity” to notify them.

“West Kelowna RCMP would like to thank the public for their assistance thus far,” the update reads.

“Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880.”