Cherryville Water Sampling & Water Testing Results
Historic results are available up until 2008. Please contact us for more information.
Water samples are gathered at various sites in the Cherryville area and sent in to a professional lab for anaylsis. Testing sites are relevant, local spots in the Cherryville community. The list of dates provided have a drop-down link to the water testing results. The water testing results would be useful to anyone that is: drawing water for domestic use, drinking water, agriculture or anyone monitoring the changes in our watershed.
Although slightly overwhelming to look at first, the water testing results have each of the water sampling sites listed in bold, followed by the testing parameters and results. Look out for red numbers. Results in red are above regulatory limits. In many of our test results, red numbers are found for E.coli measurements. A safe level of E.coli for drinking water is 0. Bold numbers indicate values that are above CARO's (the water testing company) method reporting limits.
Testing Sites A:
Cherry Creek @ North Fork Rd. Bridge Half Mile Creek Spring @ Hwy 6 Cherry Creek @ the Cherryville C. Hall Shuswap River Picnic Area (BC Hydro) Ferry Creek @ Sugar Lake Rd. Bridge
Testing Sites B:
Shuswap River @ Sihlis Rd Reiter Creek @ Shuswap River Cherry Creek @ Shuswap River Ferry Creek @ Shuswap River
Shuswap River @ BC Hydro Picnic Area
Interpreting the Water Testing Results
E. coli in a water sample usually indicates recent fecal contamination. E. coli is a specific member of the Coliform group of bacteria found in the intestines of animals and humans. Although most strains of E. coli bacteria are harmless, some strains cause serious health risks that can be fatal. Since E.coli usually indicates fecal matter is present, this means there could be harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the water.
-Drinking Water Quality: Public Health Ontario
Total Coliforms are a group of bacteria commonly found in animal waste, sewage, soil and vegetation. They are also found in the intestines of animals and humans. Total Coliforms are not likely to cause illness, but their presence indicates that your water supply may have been contaminated by more harmful microorganisms. High Total Coliform can be from non-intestinal sources like wood waste and vegetation waste. Take into consideration the following items to see if you can correlate the temporary spike in data:
Land Use: increase or changes in types of agriculture or forestry in the watershed
Heavy rainfall, particularly, flash rain in dry season
Any new dog parks, kennels etc.
Influx of more than normal geese or ducks in area
Potential for green waste dumping
The source could be a point source – like drain pipes, and non point sources like manure spreading
-Julie Porter, M.Sc., B.I.T., Environmental Impact Assessment Biologist
The chart below outlines acceptable E.coli levels for water use function. For more information please visit the B.C. government site for Water Quality Guidelines here.
