FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release – District of Clearwater
The District of Clearwater has issued a boil water notice for all residents following an incident that occurred during a planned BC Hydro power outage on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
BC Hydro initiated a planned power outage on October 6th, from 7 AM to 7 PM. Prior to the outage, District staff were closely monitoring the water reservoir levels, which were at 80%. Unfortunately, within an hour of the power going out, the reservoir was fully drained. Initially, the situation was difficult to understand as our SCADA system was erroneously showing the reservoir holding steady at 80% despite it actually draining due to the power being shut off to the SCADA system.
On Saturday evening, the power to a portion of the District’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system was unexpectedly turned off, resulting in the unintended draining of the reservoir. Consequently, the reservoir was empty when the planned power outage began at 7 AM on Sunday.
SCADA is a computer-based system used for gathering and analyzing real-time data to monitor and control equipment in industrial processes. In water management, SCADA systems play a crucial role in monitoring water levels, controlling pumps, and ensuring the efficient operation of water distribution systems.
Due to this incident, the District has implemented a boil water notice as a precautionary measure. This notice will remain in effect until Interior Health provides clearance to lift it.
The District of Clearwater is treating this incident as a serious matter and has filed a report with the authorities due to the significant impact on the community. We believe the power to the SCADA system may have been intentionally turned off.
We urge anyone with information about this incident to contact the Clearwater RCMP.
To prevent similar occurrences in the future, the District is implementing additional security measures around our community infrastructure.
We appreciate the community’s patience and cooperation during this time. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
For more information or concerns, please contact the District of Clearwater office.
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