Water Utility
Shuswap Lake Utilities Ltd. supplies treated drinking water to Shuswap Lake Estates and several properties within the surrounding communities of Blind Bay. Our water utility is regulated under the BC Water Utility Act.
- Flat rate
- $165.00per quarter, per single family residential equivalent (SFRE)
- Bills due
- 30 daysfrom the date issued
- Office
- 250.675.2523Billing and service
Where Your Water Comes From
Your water starts in the Blind Bay basin of Shuswap Lake, then runs through a system of pumps, treatment and storage reservoirs, including reserve capacity held for fire fighting, before it reaches your tap. Our licensed water personnel run the system and treat it to the standards set out under the Drinking Water Protection Act framework.
Interior Health's Drinking Water Officer monitors the system. We publish an Annual Water Report every year so you can see how the system's performing.
Downloads:
Rates
Rates are set under Water Tariff No. 6, approved by the BC Comptroller of Water Rights. The Comptroller has to sign off before any rate changes, so what you pay doesn't move without outside review.
An SFRE, or single-family residential equivalent, is one household's worth of water use. It's the unit every rate on this page is based on.
Download the Water Tariff| Charge | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Residential or commercial flat rate | $165.00 per quarter | Per SFRE |
| Additional unit, attached or detached | 0.5 SFRE | Suites, carriage homes, etc. |
| Availability of Service (Rent) Charge | $462.00 per year | Vacant lots with a water Rent Charge registered on title |
| Late payment | $25.00 | After 30 days, per overdue quarter |
| Returned cheque | $50.00 | |
| Water turn-on fee | $250.00 | |
| Water shut-off for non-payment | $100.00 |
Quarterly bills are due 30 days from the date they're issued. For vacant lots, water is billed once a year, not quarterly. When an account becomes 1 month overdue, service may be shut off upon 15 business days' written notice. Download Water Tariff No. 6 (PDF) for the full rate schedule, including commercial and metered rates.
Water Restrictions
Checking the current watering restriction stage… When restrictions apply, we follow the same outdoor watering stages as the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD), shown below.
| Stage | Watering days | Odd addresses | Even addresses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 3 days a week | Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday | Wednesday, Friday, Sunday |
| Stage 2 | 2 days a week | Tuesday, Saturday | Wednesday, Sunday |
| Stage 3 | 1 day a week | Saturday | Sunday |
- Up to 3 hours on your day
- No irrigation 10am to 6pm
- Sprinklers: midnight to 6am
A few rules apply at every stage. You can water for a maximum of 3 hours on your designated day. No irrigation between 10am and 6pm, any day. Automatic sprinkler systems do best running between midnight and 6am, and we'd still ask you to avoid watering food plants during the 10am to 6pm window.
Why the rules? Spring and summer demand can run up to 6 times winter demand, and our reservoirs still need to hold enough water for fire fighting. Repeat offenders face a fine.
You can help even on days you're not watering: fix leaks, install rain barrels, and consider xeriscaping over thirsty lawns.
Please note: a customer who contravenes water use restrictions may receive one warning notice per calendar year before a fine for contravention applies.
Billing Enquiries & Bills by Email
Want your water bill by email instead of mail? Send your name and address or lot/plan number to office@shuswaplakeestates.com and we'll switch your quarterly bills to your inbox. You can also call the office at 250.675.2523 and ask us to switch you over or to sign up for automatic withdrawals.
Water Quality Advisories and Boil Water Notices
These two notices are often confused. Here's the difference, and what each one means for your tap water.
Water Quality Advisory
A Water Quality Advisory is required when there is some level of risk associated with consuming the drinking water, but a boil water notice is not needed. The risk is elevated for people with weakened immune systems. Common examples of when a Water Quality Advisory may need to be posted are during periods of routine maintenance or if the source water is experiencing high turbidity (the cloudiness of water).
Boil Water Notice
A Boil Water Notice is required when there are organisms in the water that can make you sick. To safely consume (swallow) the water, you must bring it to a rolling boil on a stovetop for at least 60 seconds to kill these harmful organisms, or use an alternate, safe source of water.
When either one is in effect, it shows as a banner notice across the site. For more information, see Interior Health's Clean Drinking Water page.
Water emergencies
Service Requests & Emergencies
Report a leak, no water, low pressure, or discoloured water as soon as you notice it.
Submit a service request using our online form, or call during office hours. We post water quality advisories, boil water notices and service interruptions as banner notices across the site, and archive them on the Newsletters & Notices page afterward.
New Connections
Connecting to the system for the first time? A new connection charge is $250.00 plus a $100.00 inspection fee.
- New connection
- $250.00connection charge
- Inspection fee
- $100.00per new connection
- Get a water service connection permit from our office before hooking onto the system.
- A pressure reducing valve (PRV) is required at the main service where it comes into the home.
- Water services installed before 1984, or more than 30 years ago, must be replaced from the main to the property line, with a new curb stop, at the owner's cost.
- Leave connections uncovered and request the inspection two days ahead. Water Rights requires us to inspect every connection before backfilling.
- Never turn water on or off yourself. Call the office at 250.675.2523 and allow two working days' notice.
- Not using an approved installer adds a $1,000.00 fee.
Use one of our approved installers: they guarantee their workmanship and know the proper materials. Once your connection passes inspection and you're accepted as a customer, the vacant lot Availability charge stops and a pro-rated refund is credited to your account. Tampering with utility waterworks, valves or curb stops without written authorization carries a $500.00 fine per contravention.
Downloads:
FAQ
What's an SFRE?
SFRE stands for single-family residential equivalent, basically one household's worth of water use. It's the unit behind every rate on this page, from the $165.00 quarterly charge to the $462.00 a year Availability of Service charge on a vacant lot. An extra unit in the same building or within a detached structure, like a suite or carriage home, counts as half an SFRE.
When are water bills due?
Quarterly water bills are due 30 days from the date they're issued, so it pays to open the envelope, or the email, right away. For vacant lots, water is billed once a year, not quarterly. After 30 days, a $25.00 late payment charge applies per overdue quarter, and when an account becomes 1 month overdue, service may be shut off upon 15 business days' written notice. Call the office if you need help sorting out a payment.
How do I get my bills by email instead of paper?
Send your name and address or lot/plan number to office@shuswaplakeestates.com, or call 250.675.2523 and ask us to switch you over or to sign up for automatic withdrawals. Your quarterly water and sewer bills start landing in your inbox instead of your mailbox, and nothing else about your account changes.
What water restriction stage are we in and how do I know?
Check the banner at the top of the site or the Water Utility page. We follow the same Stage 1, 2 or 3 restrictions as the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. You can also call the office at 250.675.2523.
Can I water my garden?
Yes. When restrictions are in effect, water on your designated day, up to 3 hours, and never between 10am and 6pm. Odd-numbered addresses water on different days than even-numbered addresses, and the schedule gets tighter the higher the restriction stage climbs. Automatic systems run best overnight, between midnight and 6am, so set your timer there if you can.
Who do I call about a leak or no water?
Call the SLE Office at 250.675.2523 any time you notice a leak, no water or low pressure. You can also use the service request form on this page, or call our after-hours emergency number if it's outside office hours. Don't wait to report it.
Why is there a charge on my vacant lot?
If your lot has a water Rent Charge registered on title, you pay the $462.00 a year water Availability of Service charge while you're not connected to the system yet. Think of it as holding your spot. The reservoirs, pumps and treatment capacity are sized to serve your lot whenever you build, and that reserved capacity costs something to maintain even before you turn your water on.
What is a Water Quality Advisory?
A Water Quality Advisory is required when there is some level of risk associated with consuming the drinking water, but a boil water notice is not needed. The risk is elevated for people with weakened immune systems. Common examples of when a Water Quality Advisory may need to be posted are during periods of routine maintenance or if the source water is experiencing high turbidity (the cloudiness of water).
What is a Boil Water Notice?
A Boil Water Notice is required when there are organisms in the water that can make you sick. To safely consume (swallow) the water, you must bring it to a rolling boil on a stovetop for at least 60 seconds to kill these harmful organisms, or use an alternate, safe source of water.
Questions about your account or the system?
Call 250.675.2523 or contact the office.