The entire Sage Mesa water system is now covered by a boil water notice.
A warning that had been in place since May for just the lower portion of the system was expanded Thursday to include the upper part of Sage Mesa.
The notice was issued by the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and affects all 265 connections.
Sage Mesa is just north of Penticton city limits on the west side of Highway 97.
The area is serviced by a privately owned water utility that’s managed by the B.C. government, which contacts maintenance work to the RDOS.
RDOS Director Michael Brydon said the regional district has expressed a willingness to take over the system.
However, he added, the RDOS needs direction from the utility owner, B.C. government and ratepayers.
“Despite many meetings with the province on this, we await their action and leadership,” Brydon said.
He added that in its deal with the City of Penticton to supply water to the West Bench, the RDOS also negotiated the right to draw additional water to service Sage Mesa if ratepayers ever choose to connect.
A stand-alone treatment system for Sage Mesa is also an option to solve water quality issues.
