Ymir Water System

Quartz Creek Water Quality Monitoring

The Regional District is conducting flow and water quality monitoring reporting on Quartz Creek with funding provided by BC Timber Sales and the Ymir Water Service.  See the reports listed below for more information.

Annual Drinking Water Information

Size and number of connections

The system services 109 active connections.

Location

The system is located in the community of Ymir between Nelson and Salmo and is within RDCK Electoral Area G.

Source

The Ymir system currently draws water from an intake located in Quartz Creek. The Quartz Creek area is designated as a Community Watershed. Because of the susceptibility of surface sources to environmental contamination, the system was on Boil Water Advisory from 1995 until 2009, when the new treatment plant was installed.

System description

The system was first constructed in the 1890s to supply water to an expanding mining community. Several stages of upgrades have been performed since that date. The system became a RDCK service in 1979 after a cold winter that froze the entire system and left the community without water for up to six weeks.

Treatment

A new water treatment plant was installed in Ymir in December, 2009. Treatment includes media filters and nominal cartridge filters for turbidity reduction, absolute cartridge filters for oocyst removal, ultraviolet light disinfection/inactivation of microbiological components, and sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) disinfection of bacteria and viruses. The plant also uses a SCADA system, which allows for remote monitoring of plant processes. The Ymir Water Treatment Plant has received several awards, including the BC Water and Wastewater Association award for small water systems.

Storage

A concrete dam across Quartz Creek provides a small intake reservoir. The existing bolted steel reservoir was found to be in poor condition a few years ago. Temporary repairs were made and the reservoir was replaced in 2018 with a larger 617 cubic meter tank providing improved emergency and fire water storage. A Clean Water & Wastewater Fund grant provided the majority of funding.

Distribution system

Ymir's distribution system was gradually replaced in a series of recent upgrades. It now includes approximately 4.8 kilometres of PVC pipe.

Fire-fighting

The system's water pressure and storage capacity meet standardized requirements for fire protection. The distribution network serves 16 fire hydrants. The Ymir water system has been recognized by Fire Underwriters Survey as having a Dwelling Protection Grade since 1986 and has most recently been reviewed in 2014. Subscribing insurance providers can get water system grading information from Fire Underwriters Survey.

Significant issues

BC Timber Sales is planning a logging development in the Ymir Water System watershed. The RDCK is working with BC Timber Sales and the Ymir community on this issue.

Plans for future upgrades

None planned. 

Asset Management Planning

An Asset Management Plan (AMP) is complete and being updated annually.  The 2018 AMP summary report can be viewed HERE. 

The RDCK has received grant funding under the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP) in 2018 to develop a Risk & Criticality Assessment model for the water system's distribution network.  This Risk & Criticality Assessment model is now a component of the AMP and is included when RDCK management considers asset replacement dates or the prioritization of upgrade work on the highest risk/highest need.

Governance

This system is currently owned and operated by the RDCK. The RDCK receives community-specific advice and policy guidance from the Ymir Water Commission of Management.

The content on this page was last updated April 26 2022 at 2:59 PM

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